Antonia Martínez (Song for Antonia Martínez)
1978 · Paredon P-1040 · Orocovis, Puerto Rico
- Artist
- Andrés Jiménez
- Title
- Antonia Martínez (Song for Antonia Martínez)
- Release
- Puerto Rico: Como el filo del machete / Like the Edge of the Machete: Songs of the Struggle for Puerto Rican Independence
- Year
- 1978
- Label
- Paredon # P-1040
- Format
- LP · Album
- Language
- Spanish
- Country
- Orocovis, Puerto Rico
- Genre
- Hispanic Music · Nueva canción latinoamericana
- Primary theme
- Peace, Protest & Anti-War
Annotation — Kent / Jackson State Songs
The Puerto Rican song "Antonia Martinez (Song for Antonia Martinez)" (Paredon Records # P-1040), told the story of a demonstrator killed by the National Guard at a Puerto Rican demonstration against the war in Vietnam. The booklet of the record described the incident, and noted that it received little attention, compared the the Kent State killings on 4 May 1970, similar to the lack awareness around the killing of two African-American at Jackson State, thus suggesting a degree of prejudice surrounding minorities and people of colour.. The booklet said:"Antonia Martinez, a sixteen year old girl, was killed randomly in 1970 by a U.S. National Guardsman during their student strike at the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras, San Juan. She was attending a demonstration against the war in Vietnam, the drafting of young Puerto Rican men into the U.S. armed forces, and the presence of ROTC on the campuses. Written for the first anniversary of her death, this song demonstrates the shock and anger of the masses at this criminal outrage, and recaptures the historical importance of that moment of the struggle. It is interesting to note that Antonia's murder, along with numerous other…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Antonia Martínez, 16, was shot dead by a National Guardsman on 4 March 1970 during the student strike at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, at a demonstration against the war, the draft and ROTC.
About the artist
Andrés Jiménez - born 3 July 1947, Orocovis, Puerto Rico. Drafted and trained at Fort Hood, Texas; studied at the University of Puerto Rico, San Juan.