Exploring Racism, Cultural Identity, and Musical Influences in Society

This essay, written by an American Cuban student, explores the multifaceted nature of cultural identity and its impact on personal experiences, specifically focusing on racism and musical preferences. The author reflects on their Cuban heritage, highlighting the influence of European, North American, and African cultures in shaping their identity and appreciation for jazz music. The essay contrasts the author's musical preferences with those of a British classmate who favors rock and other genres, illustrating how cultural backgrounds influence individual tastes. It references scholarly works to contextualize the role of music within different cultures, emphasizing the importance of understanding cultural context when analyzing music. The essay discusses the significance of jazz in Cuban culture and the broader appeal of rock music in Britain, providing insights into the dynamics of cultural exchange and the preservation of heritage through music.

Running head: RACISM
RACISM
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1RACISM
Being an American Cuban, I possess diverse, multifaceted and uniquely fascinating
cultural traits. These varying influences of my cultural patterns have occurred throughout my
country’s history from Europe, North America and Africa which have help the American Cubans
to shape an incredibly exceptional Cuban identity. the originated from Cuba I can undoubtedly
state that my country is not only beautiful and fascinating but also holds a population which
exhibits immense sociability and hospitality despite of the economic fluctuations experienced in
the last few years.
As an American Cuban my cultural patterns significantly inclines towards art and music.
According to Gil (2015) music is identified as a vital part of the Cuban society along with the
traditional music styles which have gained immense popularity and influential in recent times.
Cuban has been successfully recognized as dynamic nation with great interest towards music
especially jazz poetry singing and dancing. Major proportion of Cubans despite of their hectic
schedules tends to manage time for indulging them in the realm of music. Such an inclination has
helped the Cuban culture to preserve its heritage while still sustaining forward movement. At this
juncture, I would like to shed light on one of the experiences I have faced 5 years ago when I
was 17 with one of my classmates who possessed culturally diverse patterns. A major divergence
related to our cultural patterns has been identified through the realm of music which has played a
significant role in both of our lives. Being a Cuban I have a special inclination for Jazz music as
is exceptionally well-liked throughout the island resulting Cuban Jazz musicians to receive
considerable recognition throughout the world. However, on the other hand, my classmate
possessing British traits holds a significant place for range of genres from rock and ska to
classical. Bachmayer, Wilterdink and van Venrooij (2014) have claimed that rock music
especially to the British tends to act as a springboard for them and holds a vital place on the

2RACISM
border between England and Wales. Meanwhile Gil (2015) has argued that as jazz has evolved
over time, the demographic profile of its audience has shifted consequently. Due to these factors,
Jazz has been holding a strong appeal to younger generation of Cubans. Roberts (2014) has noted
that if an individual holding diverse cultural patterns aims to be to comprehend jazz music at any
level, the cultural context has been identified as a critical background which cannot be
disregarded. Thus, literary works has a particularly influential avenue in order to critically
analyze these themes in jazz music (Fitch, 2016).
While understanding the cultural patterns between Cuban jazz music and British rock
music, it is highly important to create an individual musical genre in order to understand the
characteristics of each genre. As the generalized dynamic of jazz tends to be louder than that of
classical music, at least at the chamber music level, to comprehend the cultural patterns of Cuban
music it is important to understand Cuban jazz music (Roberts, 2014).

3RACISM
References
Bachmayer, T., Wilterdink, N., & van Venrooij, A. (2014). Taste differentiation and
hierarchization within popular culture: The case of salsa music. Poetics, 47, 60-82.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.poetic.2014.10.004
Fitch, W. (2016). Dance, music, meter and groove: a forgotten partnership. Frontiers in human
neuroscience, 10, 64. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2016.00064
Gil, S. (2015). The Origins of Cuban Music and its Cultural and Spiritual Importance Within the
Cuban Diaspora Community. Inquiries Journal, 7(10). Retrieved from-
http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1191/2/the-origins-of-cuban-music-and-its-
cultural-and-spiritual-importance-within-the-cuban-diaspora-community
Roberts, L. (2014). Talkin bout my generation: popular music and the culture of
heritage. International journal of heritage studies, 20(3), 262-280. s
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2012.740497