For decades, immigration has been a controversial topic, with rivaling views on the advantages and drawbacks of permitting immigrants in the US. The documentary “9500 Liberty Street” delves into the debate over the passage of a law in Prince William County, Virginia, directing police officers to check the immigration status of anyone they had “probable cause” to suspect was an illegal immigrant. This essay will assess the functionality, conflict, and interactionist sociological perspectives in the context of the documentary’s depiction of the experiences of Spanish-speaking immigrants in the United States.
First, functionalism emphasizes the relevance of institutions and social structures in establishing social order and stability. In the documentary’s context, functionalism is evident in the scene where supporters of the immigration law argue that the law is necessary for maintaining law and order can be analyzed from a functionalist perspective. (Park & Byler, 2009). According to functionalists, the law serves a specific function in maintaining social order and harmony. However, the function of power and inequality in society is foregrounded by the conflict theory. A prime example of conflict theory in action is the scene in which people who were breaking the law expressed their concerns during a public hearing (Park & Byler, 2009). Finally, symbolic interactionism emphasizes the importance of symbols and meanings in human interaction. A scene in which a Spanish-speaking immigrant expresses his dissatisfaction with the community can be analyzed through the lens of symbolic interactionism. Therefore unlike functionality, the conflict theory can be applied to the experiences of Spanish-speaking immigrants in the US.
To conclude, “9500 Liberty Street” shows how different sociological perspectives can be applied to the experiences of Spanish-speaking immigrants in the US. While the conflict theory pivots on the purpose of power and inequality in society, the functionality perspective insists on the significance of social organization and institutions in regulating social order. The importance of symbols and meanings in human interaction is emphasized by symbolic interactionism.
Reference
Park, A., & Byler, E. (2009). 9500 Liberty [Documentary]. Annabel Park. Web.