“Puerto RicoYou lovely islandIsland of tropical breezesAlways the pineapples, growingAlways the coffee blossoms, blowingAnd the money owingAnd the babies cryingAnd the people tryingI like the island, ManhattanSmoke on your pipe, and put that in!
Originally, the lyrics were "You ugly island". There was also erroneous mention of tropical diseases.
Lyrics heard first (on Broadway) in 1957, and 1961 (on film), written by Stephen Sondheim (who confessed that, until his participation in the production, he had never even met anyone from Puerto Rico) and Leonard Bernstein, are being used in 2024 to justify bad jokes.
Anita, a character, portrayed BY award-winning actress, Rita Moreno, sang “America”. She and her dancing friends believed those words.
Anita bashed her homeland. Not Rita.
In the film version, the assault in the candy store, and death of Bernardo, made Anita reconsider just how great her adopted homeland actually was. She quickly changed her tune. (Listen to “A Boy Like That”.)
Anita got a rude awakening.
Those lyrics she so arrogantly sang about Puerto Rico, are still searchable. Anita bashed Puerto Rico. That doesn't mean that Rita co-signed. The song, however, informed and cemented some people's opinions, and they think a mere song gives them license to bash the "lovely island", too.
Rita Moreno has spoken of her struggles with low self worth, and how she reluctantly took on stereotypical, ethnic roles to make a living, and build a career. This role, however, she wanted, but not if it meant denigrating her people. She'd seen the Broadway musical that preceded the film version. She said that the disparaging words about her place of birth, would not come out of her mouth.
Representation matters, but it also matters what you agree to present, once given an opportunity. The picture you paint may be construed as common, normal, truth, facts, accurate, or reality. How you present, may not only be used against you, but be cast as the norm for everyone who looks like you.
There’s a reason why groups of people are seen as monolithic. When even one person says, does, likes, wants, or believes a thing, it’s assumed that ALL people like them, will follow suit. That’s how tropes are born.
It’s funny how the focus is on what Anita, Consuelo, and the ladies sang about America, in that West Side Story dance number, but not the lived experiences and complaints of the guys, in their musical defense of Puerto Rico. The Sharks hit back with the truth about living in America as an immigrant.
Demeaning, changing, or rejecting any part of yourself—or your culture—at the direction, or suggestion of others, is tricky. People will insist on certain behaviors from you, that make them comfortable. They’ll lump you into categories based on their ignorance or inexperience, and gaslight YOU into thinking the jokes they make, tropes they use, and satire they attempt, isn’t about you. Don't be fooled. They mean you, too. To the infamous “they”, there are no “good ones”. Anything that contradicts their narrative, has to be made fun of, scrutinized, or erased.
It's vitally important who gets to tell your story, and write your history.
Trying to fit into spaces and places where you are disrespected or dehumanized, to your face, but expected to laugh, agree, and be supportive of people and systems that blatantly disregard you, has to be exhausting.
How deep is the delusion of those who continue to defend ANYTHING that disenfranchises, demeans, and hates them, but courts them only when there’s labor to be done, art to be made, or votes to be counted?
It’s fascinating what some people will support.
"Dixie"? Really?...never mind.
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