Latin America Reading Response: Emilio and Gabriela Coni: Reformers, Public Health, and Working Women

Latin America Response Paper
Your Name
Subject and Section
Professor's Name
March 29, 2021
Question 1
Music and the arts have always been some of the most critical avenues of expression throughout the history of humankind. It is not merely a way of expressing one's desire but also a way for the masses to unroot deep societal problems freely and expressively. Accordingly, this experience can be seen in Geraldo Pereira's experiences which are considered one of the foremost artists that helped shaped samba as an internationally recognized dance genre.
Particularly, Pereira's experience during the 1940s has shown how societal dynamics could shape a piece of art and vice versa. During those times, Brazil was still heavily dominated by Whites or White Brazilians. Although Afro-Brazilians were already integrated into society, a specific type of systemic racism was present, as could be seen in the disparity between the social mobility between the races. Going back to Pereira's experience, this systemic racism could be seen in the fact that all sambistas who were becoming stars back then were either Whites or almost White Brazilians. In contrast, Afro-Brazilians like Pereira were merely confined to playing in records or radio backup bands. Additionally, it could also be seen that even Pereira's composition, entitled Na Subida do Morro have only be...