Always Running
La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A.
Luis J. Rodriguez When Rodriguez started school, he knew no English. The teachers placed him in the back of the room and told him to play with blocks. Unable to communicate even when he needed to use the bathroom, other students disdained him. At eleven, Rodriguez joined a club, Thee Impersonations. From Thee Impersonations, he moved on to bigger gangs. He was thrown out of high school, and thrown out of his home. His mother let him move into her garage. Called Chin after his misshapen one, Luis did drugs participated in gang/ class warfare, became street. After returning to high school, Luis became an activist, fighting for Chicano studies and an end to gang rivalry.
This story takes place in the 60s and 70s, and tells a sad story of warfare where the police are only one more gang and violence is the normal way way of life. The preface says that his son is(probably was by now, this was published 1994) involved in gangs, and that these writings are something he needs to publish to comment on this. This is an individual story, a cry, and also an explanation of what today's youth are inheriting.
Solemn reading.
