Being a Mexican American

Although I'm not Mexican this is probably my favorite short story.  No matter where you live in America you are most likely going to be identified with the people you hang out with.  So if you live in a community made up of a specific race you are going to be identified with them.  This story tells it from the perspective of a kid that is trying to defy who he is identified with.  He will forever be a Mexican, but as he starts to mix with other groups he slowly looses parts of his roots.  This portrayal shows how he will never be able to completely let go of his roots because they go so far back in his life.  We become so connected and wrapped up with our past that there is no way to leave it behind.  Some think this is bad others take it as a blessing.  Mendoza believes that no matter what it will always stay with you and it makes you who you are.  I agree because no matter what your past was like, good or bad, it still made You.  A point that Mendoza makes is that people will never fully integrate with each other. Is he so far off?  If you take a look at a diverse city like Chicago you will find that there are neighborhoods for each ethnicity.  No one segregates us but ourselves.  In my life time I really wonder if I will see a true mix of culture throughout the world.