Riley CrandallApril 1, 2014IHUM – 260Dr. EsplinFernandomania: The Mexican-American DreamThe film Fernando Nation is a documentary highlighting the career of Fernando Valenzuela in Major League Baseball. This film illustrates a new type of American dream through the eyes of Mexican Americans by showing their historic struggle to be accepted into society, depicting Fernando's humble beginnings, and highlighting the national fame he gained throughout throughout his Major League career. In doing so, Fernando Nation helps viewers understand the Mexican people's desire for social equality with others in the United States, as well as what their version of the American dream looked like. In 1979, the Los Angeles Dodgers were on a mission to find a new type of baseball player. Due to a conflict that developed following the construction of the new Dodger Stadium, Dodger management had difficulty marketing to the ever-growing Mexican population in Los Angeles. In an effort to start a baseball movement within the Latino community, Dodgers scouts were sent to Mexico to find a player who could attract the attention of Mexican Americans in Southern California . Major league scouts had come to watch a shortstop they had heard about. excellent defender and consistent hitter. They were quickly distracted from that responsibility, however, by the man's performance on the pitcher's mound. Fernando Valenzuela was a chubby teenager who grew up on the dusty baseball fields of northwest Mexico. From a young age, he dreamed of playing professional baseball and he was about to get his chance. Less than two years later, he became the only player to win the Cy Young Award as well as the Rookie of the Year Award...... middle of paper ......d States in a very short time time . The film gives the impression that Mexican Americans began to look to it as an example of what their people could do, given the opportunity and resources. Although different, Mexicans were capable of doing everything other Americans could do. When his Mexican heritage combined with American stardom, a new dream was born; the Mexican-American dream. By showing the historic struggle of Mexican immigrants to be equal members of American society, depicting the humble and unique characteristics of Fernando Valenzuela, and highlighting his incredible rise to fame, the film Fernando Nation introduces a new type of American Dream . Fernando Valenzuela has become for many the embodiment of the Mexican-American dream. By understanding his story, we can understand the hopes and dreams of many Mexican immigrants in America today..