Blacks and Latinos in AmericaThrough our readings of Mexicans in the United States and the African-American experience modules, we begin to understand identity formation through the difficulties faced by minorities due to discrimination. In this article I will compare and contrast the ideas of identity shown through the readings. These two modules exemplify the theme of identity. We see how Black and Latino people 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 in all our readings, because it is difficult for people to accept who they are in society. Accepting your identity as a minority with little or no freedoms triggers many of the social problems I will show happen in all communities and cultures. The main question we will discuss is how social environments influence the search for identity. The Mexicans in the United States module provides examples of how Mexicans try to maintain their customs while living in an environment discriminated against by whites. This module also provides us with examples of how people search for personal identity while struggling with cultural traditions. Finally, the African American module provides us with more examples to compare with the Mexicans in the US module, because these readings deal with blacks finding their personal identity also through discrimination by whites. To properly understand the topic of identity, we must first look at the factors that influence it. The first influence we see in both modules is discrimination. Whites as a whole have given no acceptance to either culture. There were several barriers that prevented blacks and Mexicans from breaking the border between themselves and whites. First, Whites viewed both groups of people as minorities. They believed that both subcultures were unequal from the beginning, so they had discriminating beliefs about the cultures both groups came from. Furthermore, whites were very angry at these groups, who sought to share the same freedoms. Subsequently, both Blacks and Mexicans lived through their ancestor cultures and traditions. It was very difficult for both groups to compete with the white economy and lifestyle while keeping their beliefs strong. Now that we have an understanding of the influences on both groups' identity struggles, we consider them Mexican. In The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm is told by his eighth-grade teacher to think realistically about career goals. He is told to abandon his idea of ​​becoming a lawyer and go into carpentry, which was a stereotypical black job. Blacks were 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 that blacks should enjoy the same freedoms. In the film Eye on the Prize, we see how black people tried to maintain their cultural values ​​while living in the "white man's world." Like Mexicans, blacks had a social identity, but faced many difficulties 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 imposed on blacks and Mexicans have changed their ideas of personal and social identity. Factors influencing identity also made this idea difficult for both groups to understand. The role identity played in both groups was a key concept to understand in the creation of their new one".."