As much as American Society tries to generalize people based on similarities and their cultures, it cannot account for the

complexities of the ever-evolving human being. Identity is not always stable and is not formed from one certain factor but instead involves a multitude of factors, relationships, experiences actions and ideas that could not all be accounted for at any given time. Thus, there is no plausible way to categorize more than one person into one group based on their culture and yet race is still a real concept in todays society that is further compounded when it becomes mixed. As society and popular culture would like us to believe, being half-White no longer carries the same weight as someone who is only one race; that is, a mixed-race becomes more familiar, friendlier and even prettier. However, the book, American Son paints a whole new representation of what it is to be of mixed-race. It becomes very clear that in fact, this component not only makes race very real in society but also very contentious in its relation to the different dynamics that play a role within its existence. It could be described as a tug-o-war between two forces that are constantly reflecting and feeding off each other. Gabe, the protagonist who is of mixed-race is constantly trying to understand his identity through the depicting eyes of society and society is reflecting onto Gabe some of these racialized sentiments. In addition, the fact that Asian American history, specifically Filipino history is presented in a way that is fed to society in a very generic and simplistic form, it actually plays a huge role in the way that society does in fact understand and respond to culture. Therefore, when we think of race and its meaning, it is loosely based on its historical context and therefore, society is clouded by ignorance of its real impact on the continuous development of culture. beliefs that become disproved throughout the book, American Son. We began to slowly understand the many facets that involve being a mixed-race man in American society, today. Through Gabe, we begin to put fragmented perceptions together to find meaning in their significance towards the manifestation of a racialized identity. We begin to learn that underlying forces do exist running against each other to become contentious. As we refer to the book, East Main Street we can observe the parallels between the historical context and the present day relationships that were reflected through it.

Throughout the book, we notice that there are many references to the way Tomas and Gabe look. We read this Through Gabe's own perception of himself; he is a very Asian looking guy with some White in him. This reflection seems to haunt him especially when faced with his older brother, Tomas. This can be seen when the emphasis is on how handsome Tomas is and consequently how un-Asian he looks. Unfortunately this perception runs deep, since their mother is constantly degrading their culture even though her mere accent can give her away. Unknowingly, this is possibly dating back to historical events occurring in the Philippines during the colonization and imperialism by other countries like Spain and Europe. Along with this, there is also the component of Asians being the "model minority" that also plays a role in the way their mother thinks and acts. Trying to fit this mold along with their own perceptions of themselves can definitely cause several Looking deeper into the historical meaning and role that plays in Filipino culture today, we begin to spot some correlations among the relationships that take place in Gabes family. From the beginnings of colonialism by Spain, Europe and even the US in the Philippines, it becomes clearer as to what kind of impact this has had on the culture itself. Take the Catholic religion for example and how important it is to Gabe, his mother and Uncle Benito. It cannot be a coincidence that the familys favorite priest is American. As the chapter, Pappys House in East Main Street explains it, Spaniards become somewhat of White parents to the Indios (the natives) as they were in need of proper guidance and upbringing. Not only did religion look down upon the Filipino people at the time, but it also transformed the culture into a much more patriarchal one. Women would take their roles as subservient and men would be the hard-working laborers. We observe some of these parallels in Gabes mother and her behavior towards others. She, being a good Catholic woman seems to still be affected by a critical brother that is thousands of miles away and has adopted the American priest as the fatherly figure to her sons. Being abandoned by her American husband she consequently fills this hole with another American male figure that is limited to only remaining as a fatherly figure without the romanticized component.

As Gabe and Tomas grow up in this tumultuous environment, they take different paths but equally contentious. Tomas completely disassociates himself of his Filipino culture and even though he passes as White, becomes and transforms his identity into another culture altogether. Gabe, on the other hand becomes very critical of himself and aware of his racial identity through the eyes of society. Tomas seeing his White side as the evil side (as he witnessed his father disrespect their mother and abandon them) he also negates his Filipino culture because of how he sees it portrayed through his mother. He understands the relationship that his mother hold as being dependent on a Superior males and rejects it along with her own portrayal of the Filipino culture. However, he consequently takes on this same role that he once despised; being the superior male his mother looks up to. Just like his mother, Gabe wants to fit the mold of being an exemplary Asian American; a mold that society has placed on their culture but soon faces his own discoveries of his own identity. Not being the handsome one or the Whiter looking one like Tomas, Gabe is constantly reminded of this through his family. Therefore, understanding that his own mother negates their culture and its men as not being the superior ones, he can only come to the conclusion that he should reinvent his own identity. Because history is supposed to shape our views and perspective of culture, it is very difficult when it is not given credit. When the historical context of culture is not valued, it cannot take form and the development of culture seems to be muted. We observed this silent form of culture in Gabes family. Even though Gabe and his brother had strong family ties, especially to their mothers culture, their exposure always seemed to be towards a negative light. They experienced culture not through important historical meaning and significance but instead through their mothers eyes which always seemed to degrade and reject it. Additionally, they didnt have a real notion of what a positive fatherly figure was and therefore did not relate to their White side. The representations of these two young men growing up in a society that feeds off culture in its own convenient way proved that Asian American is in fact contentious and far more complex than anyone could imagine. Even though historical context may not have been apparent throughout American Son, we can definitely understand the parallels through East Main Street.

We can make references to what it means to have valid and credited history and how important it is to a culture.