Ghostly Labor
Ghostly Labor was a unique and creative event. It was interesting reading the program before the performance started to understand the event's history and then enjoy the creative take the performance exemplified this history. A quick overview for those unfamiliar with the event: Ghostly Labor explored labor history in the U.S. and Mexico's borders through music, instruments, tap dance, fashion choices, the Afro-Caribbean movement, Son Jarocho, and Mexican Zapateado. To this day, I have yet to attend such a beautiful cultural, educational, and creative performance event as Ghostly Labor.
My personal favorite act was during Part 1: Pre-Colonization El Buscapies. This piece included a beautiful visual of people clearing the land and working out in fields. The live music not only added to the scene but also used beautiful drums, moving background visuals, and outfit options on the performers to get the idea across. The intense usage of green imagery made this scene almost glamorize the idea of working to show the audience that it is an occupation that more people should appreciate and value.
Ghostly Labor - Pre Colonization: El Buscapies
In addition to my favorite scene, I also wanted to express my enjoyment of Afro-Caribbean music and dances. Although there were many different expressions of dance and movement, I had never seen Afro-Caribbean dance and musical styles before, and they truly were moving. Afro-Caribbean is used to describe a “range of dance and musical styles developed by members of the African diaspora in the Caribbean” (USC Visions & Voices Program, 2024).
On top of the scene and musical style that stood out the most to me, I truly learned more about the US-Mexican border struggles and guidelines between the late 1800s and present times. There was a moving scene when a woman proclaimed that in 1919, a girl no longer wanted to strip and take the toxic baths in front of American workers to have her picture taken and feel violated. This scene reached into the audience's feelings, not only to feel bad but also to understand the gravity of the situation that led to the strikes and labor laws in 1938 because that girl was never seen again. If Mexican workers spoke up, even in a peaceful protest, U.S. forces would detain and punish the workers. Even today, women and organizations resist exploration and mobilize for human rights and better working conditions.
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