Lone Star

Prejudice, racism, and rigidly divided lines between ethnic groups demarcate the town of Frontera. Teen sex, interracial marriages, adultery, and homosexuality are involved in the interactions of the townsfolk, despite these rigid boundaries constructed of prejudice. Sergeant Cliff and Pricilla Worth are an interracial couple who intend to marry. One of CliffÆs friends, Sergeant Mikey, asks him if PriscillaÆs family will accept their daughterÆs wishes to marry a ôwhite guy,ö (Sayles, 1996). Sergeant Cliff replies that unmarried woman over 30 in the military are often considered lesbians, so, according to Cliff, PricillaÆs family will ôbe happyö that heÆs a ôman,ö (Sayles, 1996). In this relationship we see that prejudice runs deep in Frontera, fueled by years of ongoing struggles among its white, black, and

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to demonstrate this large point that he is making about race relations and ethnic divisions in general. During his investigation into the possible murder of Charley Wade, Sam discovers his father is guilty of not only committing adultery, but he also diverted funds to establish his mistress, PilarÆs mother Mercedes, in business. PilarÆs mother refuses to permit her to date Sam. We do not know but it is possible that Pilar may be the product of the relationship between SamÆs father and Mercedes. PilarÆs motherÆs name, Mercedes, is significant, because now that she has money and prestige in town it makes her ôSpanish,ö not ôMexican.ö As Pilar tells Sam, ôAll my mother does is work. ThatÆs how you get to be Spanish,ö (Sayles, 1996).The theme of SaylesÆ film is the arbitrary and artificial distinctions made due to race and ethnicity in society that more often than not are invalid. We see this exhibited in MercedesÆ character. Mercedes is one of the biggest racists in Frontera, aside from the dead Charley Wade. Mercedes routinely calls the border patrol on immigrants illegally crossing the border into Frontera in their desperate search of the American Dream. She is quite willing to chastise Mexicans who refuse to assimilate
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1249
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page)

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