Identity Of Mexicans On A Personal Level example essay topic

Forming Identities in the White Man's World Through our readings of the Mexicans in the U.S. and the African-American experience modules, we begin to understand the formation of identity through the hardships minorities faced from discrimination. In this paper, I am going to compare and contrast the ideas of identity shown through the readings. These two modules exemplify the theme of identity. We see how Blacks and Latinos tried to find their identity both personally and as a culture through the forced lifestyles they had to live.

Identity is one of the main questions throughout all of our readings, because it is hard for people to accept who they are in society. Accepting their identity as a minority with little if any freedoms sparks many of the social problems which I will show happening in all communities and cultures. The main issue we will discuss is how social environments effect the search for identity. The Mexicans in the U.S. module gives us examples how Mexicans try to keep their customs while living in a discriminated environment by the Whites. This module also gives us examples how people are searching for personal identity while struggling with cultural traditions. Finally, the African-American module gives us more examples to compare with the Mexicans in the U.S. module, because these readings deal with Blacks finding personal identity also through discrimination from the Whites.

To properly understand the theme of identity, we must first look the factors influencing it. The first influence we see in both modules is discrimination. The Whites as a whole did not give any acceptance towards both cultures. There were several barriers keeping the Blacks and Mexicans from breaking the lines between them and the Whites. First, the Whites saw both groups of people as minorities. They felt both subcultures were unequal from the beginning, therefore holding discriminating beliefs about the cultures from which both groups came from.

Also, the Whites were very angry with these groups, who were trying to share the same freedoms. Next, both the Blacks and Mexicans lived through their cultures and traditions from ancestors. It was very hard for either group to compete with the Whites' economy and lifestyles while keeping their beliefs strong. Now that we have an understanding of the influences on both groups' identity struggles, we will begin the discussion of identity with the Mexicans in the U.S. module. The Mexicans in U.S. modules gives many examples how strong cultural pasts lead to identity problems in a new society.

Also, the module shows us that many Mexicans were not happy with the stereotype formed about their identity. In Between the Lines, we see how Mexicans in America suffer through harsh discrimination, while trying to stay close to their relatives and culture. The letters talk about how Whites did not have concerns with family values or cultural beliefs. Whites based many of their values off succeeding in the economy.

Whites in general had no regard for Mexicans as people. It is hard for them to seek true identity when Whites did not want to give any acceptance to their culture. Between language and culture barriers, Mexicans could not find any means to gain freedom in America. The discrimination facing them not only set them back as a society, but did not allow them to grow personally.

We see this throughout The House on Mango Street and Zoot Suit. Both of these books give clear examples how Mexicans on a personal level could not keep struggling with the stereotypes being pushed on them. In The House on Mango Street, we see how the youth struggled with the discrimination being pushed on them by Whites. Esperanza describes how they lived in such a poverty-stricken area of the city, and did not interact with the Whites. She talks about how the Whites saw Mexicans as bad people who committed crimes. Esperanza shows how personal identity for Mexicans was made through the barriers pushed forth by the Whites.

Also, Esperanza gives a great example to show how many Mexicans were not content with their identity. I n Zoot Suit, we see how Mexicans are again stereotyped as criminals who do bad things in the city. This book gives many examples how the identity of Mexicans personally can not be made without using their traditional values, which sometimes got them in trouble. The identity of Mexicans on a personal level was very hard to see, because of the discrimination and stereotypes pushed forth by Whites. The only real identity Mexicans had was through their traditions and cultural values, which many Whites oppressed them with.

Yet, in comparison to the Blacks, these same identity problems were seen. The African-American module gives more examples in finding identity. In the Invisible Man, we see how Blacks hide their true personal identity behind a veil. This veil hides their culture and their personal beliefs, because of the discrimination from the Whites. It was hard for the Blacks to find true personal identity because of the discrimination. Blacks had similar stereotypes pressed upon them as the Mexicans.

In The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm is told by his 8th grade teacher to think realistically about career goals. He is told to drop his ideas of becoming a lawyer, and look into the field of carpentry, which was a stereotypical Black job. Blacks were being discriminated against in all aspects of their lives. Even as maturing students, they were told what to do with their lives, simply because Whites did not believe Blacks should hold the same freedoms. In the movie, Eye on the Prize, we see how Blacks tried to keep their cultural values while living in the 'White mans world.

' Like the Mexicans, Blacks had a societal identity, yet they faced many hardships in trying to find their personal identity. As we have seen, the role of identity is a key issue in our history. The discrimination and stereotypes pressed upon the Blacks and Mexicans changed their ideas of personal and social identity. The factors that influence identity also made the understanding of this idea hard for both groups. The role that identity played in both groups was a key concept for them to understand in creating their new individuality in the 'White America. '.