Family is important, and many people would do anything for them. In the exploration of race and ethnicity in the melting pot, the importance of family is the central theme between the works of Amy Tan’s “Alien Relative” and Richard Rodriguez’s "Aria." Both families in Tan’s and Rodriguez’s stories sacrifice their relationships, cultural values, and identities in order for their families to live better lives in America. Both families in “Alien Relative” and "Aria," for the importance of family sacrifice their relationships together in order for them all to live better lives in the United States. In Amy Tan’s story, Hulan sacrificed her middle child in order for the rest of the family to migrate to the United States. Although they had planned to bring everyone, a set-back had left the family without enough money for everyone. The narrator states, “That morning, Hulan grasped her middle child to her heart and promised him, “I will never forget you, never lose you.” And Feng-yi smiled, not knowing what she meant.” (Tan 63). Their middle child was their favorite, however, being the healthiest, most clever, and strongest, Hulan and Henry felt as if their middle son could hold his own, unlike their other two children, until they could get enough money to fly him to America. What Hulan and Henry did not know was that it would be 11 years until they would see their middle child again. The family in “Alien Relative” sacrificed their relationship with their middle son in order for their helpless one year old and 8 year with poor health to come to America. In Rodriguez’s Aria, Richard also sacrifices his relationship with his parents so that they can live better lives in the city they live in. Unlike sacrificing a child, like Hulan did in Tan’s story, the child in Aria, Richard, sacrifices his relationship with his parents by not speaking Spanish in the house anymore. Rodriguez says, “Smiling, I’d hear my mother call out, saying in Spanish, “Is that you Richard?” Those were her words, but all the while her sounds would assure me: You are home now. Come closer inside. With us.” (Rodriguez 71). Richard cherishes his relationship with his family when he is at home speaking Spanish and not English. It gives Richard a sense of security unlike when he is out of the house where everyone expects him to speak English. Richard is not the only one sacrificing something for the sake of his family, “Is it possible for you and your husband to encourage