West Side Story Response

I have only seen West Side Story once in my life, and that was when I was just a little boy. I had always thought of the film as purely entertainment but after watching the clip the other day in class it the seriousness of the film became suddenly apparent to me. West Side Story actually gives a pretty accurate portrayal of the problems afflicting Puerto Ricans at the time, even though this message can be delivered with a certain amount of ignorance and perhaps racism (Such as during the song and dance number, the music and dance was more similar to Flamenco, from Spain, than any form of dance native to Puerto Rico). However, that song highlighted the major issues facing Puerto Ricans in New York. It talked about identity, how many were born in the United States and have never even been to Puerto Rico, and the fantasy version of the United States. The latter is a reality that many immigrants face when coming to America. Back in their home country, immigrants are filled with illusions of splendor, material wealth, and freedom in many forms. But once they arrive, they realize that the land of opportunity is not available to everyone (Especially those who do not fit in with the majority, i.e. white and English speaking).
Ultimately, what I took out of the clip was that even though West Side Story doesn’t necessarily give an accurate portrayal of Puerto Ricans in New York, it certainly does highlight the issues and problems that they faced and still face today.

Miles Johnson