In this talk the author presents her artistic project, a portfolio of electroacoustic music which aims to create awareness and fight racism in Mexico. In spite of the great cultural diversity present in the country, discrimination towards certain citizens is present in daily life. The author will talk about the diverse challenges posed by this project regarding aesthetic approaches, music formats, cultural issues, social engagement, and ethics.
Mexican society is the result of a confluence of diverse races and cultures, mostly because of the Spanish colonisation. Diversity is present and includes not only Europrean, but also African and Asian origins. Most importantly, all over the country there are still 61 different indigenous groups that have persisted in spite of the colonisation. According to statistics (INEGI, 2017), 88% of the Mexicans consider themselves morenos (persons of dark skin tone). Yet different levels of discrimination towards the indigenous (indios) and morenos exist. Discrimination is present neither by law nor by regulation; but by behaviours in everyday life, at workplaces, schools, and in political and social environments. On the contrary, there is respect, and privileges for people of white origins or brighter skin. This piece collects fragments of interviews with Mexicans who agreed to share their experiences regarding this matter. Not only they wish to express their own concerns or struggles, but also to raise awareness about this issue, and even more, to give some advice to eradicate this problem. The language and statements in the piece mostly belong to the Mexican culture. Many of the references can only be understood in the context of this culture, whereas others can be more universal. It is not the composer’s intention to offend any audiences due to the nature of the topic or the use of specific words. Rather, the intention is to address this problem that deeply affects Mexican society, and to incite reflection