Duran’s intention for this book is to show accurate research on the gang life, and what is different about the research. The difference is that this research includes methodology and theory. This book was written to present to the audience about the actual morals, standards, goals, and reasons of gang life. He also made note that the gang life is not strictly about committing violent and harmful acts. Duran is a strong supporter of the counter-gang paradigm. While using the counter-gang paradigm, he takes on an impulsive method by examining his own background and giving us an understanding for Mexican-origin population as criminal threats. The counter-gang paradigm emphasizes on the methodical development for how we acquire information and elaborate the theoretical actions of minority groups. …show more content…
12). Duran puts an immense emphasis in support of his argument against the view that the main objective of gangs are to commit criminal and violent acts. He says that past research is bad and is not methodological in nature. Therefore, past research has been nullifying much of the results and conclusions. He tells us that numerous racialized gangs begin as a “perceived and actual form of empowerment.” Then, later are “converted by the state into legitimized forms for future criminalization” (p. 13). He finds out that before individuals can even enter a gang, they experience ridicule and jokes poked at Mexicans in the form of classism, nativism, and racism shown by bullies and other people. Due to this, there is an inclination to join a