Jazz, Golf and American Dream

Jazz, Golf and American Dream

This research constitutes a contribution to Social History and the History of Mentalities, focusing on the particular case of the sociocultural impact of the foreign presence on the island of Terceira, with particular emphasis on the American presence on the island, which was officially established in 1946 and continues to be felt to this day. The aim was to recover and preserve the memories of a community that experienced the profound impact of the American presence and to demonstrate how this presence transformed island life and its traditional tranquility, bringing development and prosperity to the people of the island.

This retrospective examination of the past is intended to serve as a legacy for future generations, with the purpose of gaining a better understanding of the social consequences of the establishment of Lajes Base. With the arrival of the Americans, there was a shift in Terceira’s identity. Changes occurred in island ways of life, accompanied by greater prosperity and an improved quality of life, particularly among Base workers, although significant social inequalities continued to persist.

As a result of the fascination with American customs and quality of life, combined with the desire to escape poverty, significant migration strategies emerged, namely the adoption or placement of Terceiran children with American couples and marriages between young islanders and outsiders. These were archipelago-wide phenomena and constitute key processes for understanding the social impact of the American presence on Terceira Island and the Azores in general, as social realities associated with and/or resulting from the foreign presence within the community.

Book supported within the scope of the Open Call for Translation of Literary Works by the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD)

Autora: Tânia Santos