Sociology

My Family, a movie released in 1995 and produced by Francis Ford Coppola, discusses the struggles of a man in the 1920s who journeyed all the way from Mexico to California by foot.  It then delved deeper into the socio-economic conditions surrounding his family and those of his succeeding generations, particularly on how their assimilation with another culture caused to result in several circumstances bordering on the human tendency to adhere to the false notion of racial supremacy.  Likewise, the film emphasized on the importance of not being swayed by the influencing factors that may cause a person to disown his own heritage and to sacrifice his inherent cultural norms in order to satisfy the expectations set by the society.   

Race and ethnicity were the defining themes of the movie.  It centered on the Sanchez family spanning many generations and in different decades, each possessing its own unique set of social norms.  One such instance was when Maria Sanchez (played by Jennifer Lopez) was forcibly deported by the police back to Mexico despite of being an American citizen during the Great Depression of the 1930s.  Here, racial discrimination was especially evident with the main reason for her deportation that of simply being a Mexican.  It showed the viewers of the prevailing situation during the era, wherein America was exclusively for those who were fortunate to born in that nation. 

Another scene that displayed the social atmosphere of that era was when Memo (played by Enrique Castillo) introduced his Caucasian fianc and her parents to his family in their home in East L.A.  The social condition of that era was prominently presented by the narrator, in observing, And even though she had been born and raised in LA, she and her family had never been to East L.A. (Coppola, 1995), clearly distinguishing the social demarcation lines that separated the true Americans from the Mexican-Americans that existed in LA.

Social Realities
The very notion of race, as demonstrated by the movie My Family, suggests it to be the essential factor for maintaining and preserving a cultures unique character.  This was displayed by Jimmy Sanchez in his struggles to safeguard the Mexican culture of his family, often times in futility.  Several reasons were made known to support the factors behind for some of his children to succumb to societal expectations.  For Chucho, it was the temptation of illicit drugs to compensate for their meager subsistence, and to offset the discrimination regarded to his heritage by the general American populace.  For Memo, it was the lure to finally be regarded as a true American, especially since he is a successful lawyer in the corporate societies of urban LA.  His pitiful attempt to erase his true heritage was evidenced in changing his name to Billy, and in refuting his fathers story of his earlier journey to LA. 

However, it was also clear that the film had educated us on a positive lesson in life.  It showed us, through the lives of Jimmy Sanchez and his wife Maria, that being true to oneself will result in a positive outlook and an optimistic attitude to ones existence.  Thus, when they were already old, they were unanimous in their reflection, God has been good to us, weve been very lucky, and our life, it has been veryverygood (Coppola, 1995).

Conclusion
Through the portrayal of the characters in the aforementioned film, we became firsthand witnesses to the intimate lives of these people.  It delved on extensive topics that included family, relationships, societal pressures, and the discriminating racial realities that prevail in every society.  It is indeed fortunate to have witnessed how Jimmy had fought throughout his life to preserve his Mexican ethnicity, and how he had struggled to influence his children into acquiring the same principles.  Most important of all, it allowed us, who are living in the present era and whose societies are more culturally diverse, an option on which road to travel the contentment of living in truth, or the unending struggle to belong.