Trying to prove people wrong about where your true roots are it sometimes might not be as easy as

we might expect. Many of us have gone through many obstacles trying to be accepted with people
of our own ethnicity and at times this fails either because of your physical appearance or the way
you’re perceived by others. I selected identity construction theory to discuss in this movie. The
overall theme of this paper pertains to theories on identity construction in which questions such as
“Who am I?”, “Where do we come from?”, and “How do we think?” become central. It is many
respect an abstract discourse to discuss “What is identity?” nonetheless our identity is fundamental
in discussions on “Who am I?” On a pedagogical level we seek to discover ourselves during our
adolescence particularly. This period in our lives is of extreme importance as it is during these years
that the formation of our personal development into adults takes place. It is during this period that
we first meet the main character in the film that I will be using as my basis.

In the movie “Blood In…Blood Out,” there are three young Chicano teens just trying to survive
in a white man’s world. First, you have Paco, a rebellious teen that loves a fight, and is in a small
East Los Angeles street gang called “Vatos Locos.” Then, there is his half brother Cruz, he is
trying to stray away from the gang life by painting, however, he still is and hangs with the Vatos
Locos. Lastly, with blonde hair, blue eyes, and white skin, there is Miklo the cousin of Cruz and
Paco, who ran away from his white father to reconect with his Mexican roots. The only problem
is Miklo does not look Chicano, and the Mexican community, including Paco, have a hard time
accepting him into the world he so much wants to be a part of. His friends call him names like
“white boy” or “guero” to make fun of his skin. Miklo though, is determined to gain the respect
of his peers, he decides that he too wants to be a “Vato Loco,” which doesn’t sit very well with
Paco. He tells Miklo, “Do white boys get VL placas (tattoos)? No, it doesn’t happen. Unless…”
and that’s where it all starts.

The concept of identifying with someone is not to be confused, however, with the concept of identical
as they are undeniably two quite different matters. An individual who identifies himself with a pier
may tend to position himself in relation to others in similar ways as the other. For example in terms
of how he positions himself toward other individuals of dissimilar cultural, ethnical, or racial
backgrounds will be similar to the person he identifies with. Identity pertains to what and how one
thinks of him or herself. It is the perception of ‘self’ which comes into question. This again
determines how he or she will position him or herself in relation to others. The concept of identical,
however, pertains to being the exact same or the exact copy of something or someone. That is not the
same as identifying with which just refers to that of being similar to or having in common. It is
important to make this distinction when we discuss identity construction and feeling ‘sameness’ with
someone.

Miklo, to take the example of our main character, positions himself differently depending on whom
he socializes with. He perceives ‘whiteness’ as a negative characteristic of a person due to the
negative experiences he has had with his father who is white thus psychologically explanation for his
exponentially growing disconnect and disappointment in his cousin Paco who in Miklo’s eyes
represents the ‘White System’ and ‘whiteness’. Miklo’s construction of ‘self’ is based on his yearning
for his mother’s love, affection, and acceptance – which is part of his perception of the concept of
‘brownness’ – which ultimately he seeks by joining La Onda. It is through social acceptance through
La Onda that Miklo’s ‘self’ is manifested; his identity is in other words constructed through La Onda
where he becomes aware consciously of his ‘self’. Thematically speaking ‘Who we are’ is what is
answered when we speak of the topic Identity Construction. This film impacted audience of the
decisions that each actor took. If this film meant that each latino where “carnales”, why hurt and kill within
each other. I do not understand how in order for a Latino to have a good time theres have to be drugs and
alcohol involved in the Latino community. What emotional reaction do you suggest the filmmakers
intended? The emotional reaction that the filmmakers intended for anyone who watch this film is that no
matter what skin, hair and eye color is no one deserves to be labeled.

The film focuses more on their cousin Miklo who is anglo and mexican. Miklo was living with his dad who’s
ethnicity is white, but Miklo gets into an argument with the dad which ends up moving from Las Vegas to East Los
Angeles. There he starts to hang around with his cousins, but as he tries to fit in with his cousins, Paco discriminates
him because of his physical appearance (white skin, blue eyes and blond hair). These film is mainly in racial issues.
In the movie Paco, talks to Miklo and tells him that in order to be one real chicano he needs to kill one of their
enemies in which ethnicity is the same but are with one gang who they do not get along. Once killing one of their
enemy he can be part of El Pico Aliso barrio. After the killing Miklo can also be joined to the, East LA gang known
as “Vatos Locos”, as he is pressure to kill someone, Miklo is incarcerated and sent to a jail named San Quentin.
There he makes a home for himself. There he is treated as an american white guy and not as a mexican in which he
has killed in order to be treated as a mexican. But as the film goes on he then has to go through the same thing of
killing one of the enemies to be accepted in Vatos Locos in jail and get respect from them. The story of Blood in
Blood out focuses on how a violent crime and the influence of drugs alter their lives. Cruz becomes an exceptional
artist, but in which he becomes a heroin addict. Paco, since he was involved in the crime that Miklo did he was..

Conclusion

No race should be discriminated and criticize. We should all get along and just be proud of where our
roots come from. This film also intended for everyone who watch this film, is that there should not have to
be obstacles to be proud of your own race.