Los Vendidos by Luis Valdez - Research Paper Example

It is clear from the study that in his play Luis Valdez highlights racism, social injustice, stereotyping and corruption of social identity as key problems faced by the Mexican and Mexican- American groups. The perpetrators are the Americans. The Mexican stereotypes are not accepted by the American society thus face constant disapproval and discrimination. This case is demonstrated by the proceedings of the secretary-Miss Jimenez who goes to buy a “brown-skinned” robot that has a Mexican appeal.

However, she focuses on a model that is likely to be accepted by the American society for having certain characteristics such as the English speaking ability, sophistication and hard-working. The secretary highlights these characteristics as the ideal representation of the American. These characteristics are completely opposite to those associated with Mexicans or Mexicans-Americans. They are known as lazy, stupid and illiterate. As much as the Americans are blamed for these acts against the community having Mexicans roots, they are also to blame for its spread.

The shop owner and the secretary have Mexican roots but instead, continue to stick to the stereotypes set by the Americans. This proves to a certain point that they are also inclined to believe it is the actual case with people of Mexican roots. The author focuses much on the effects of the Americans in perpetrating this kind of discrimination while also failing to recognize the role played by the Mexicans and the Mexican-American society. While buying the models Miss Jimenez- a Latina, but she play-acts as an American, and for that matter she is inclined or rather believes that products made in the U.S.A are way better.

In fact she wishes to buy a Mexican-American product only made in the USA are because they thought to be of better quality than those made by Mexicans. After going past a Mexican a revolutionist, a pachuco, a farmworker and a college-educated Mexican-American, the secretary decides to take the last one. She buys the model, but just after making the monetary disbursement he acts in an unforeseen way. Terrified, she leaves the model shop without taking the merchandise she had bought (Valdez, 1995).

This explains that she had conflicts with how the office would like her purchase. Perhaps it would not please them enough. This shows that the Latinos have to great extent become subject to enabling the spread of this stereotyping. The author does not dwell much on it though it is an indispensable part of the play. It is very notable. Until this instant in the text “Los Vendidos”the reader can see the diverse stereotypes about Latinos themselves, comprising those who act as if they are not Latinos like the secretary.

If the play ended at that point, it would be anassessment on the relationships based on stereotypes. However, Luis Valdez goes ahead and displays the set of Latinos who act like robots distributing the money they had got from the secretary and seeingas stupid those people who