With His Pistol in His Hand takes place in Mexico during the summer of 1901. The main character Gregorio Cortez Lira is a young and humbled hard working farmer; married to Leonar Diaz and father of four. He was very close to his brother, Roman Cortez. One day while Gregorio and his brother were at home on the farm, the Major Sheriff confronted them in regards of a horse thieft. The Sheriff heard that Gregorio traded with an American a horse and a mare. Instead of asking Gregorio if he had traded a mare with Villareal he ask about a horse, which Gregorio answers no. As a result from this misunderstanding, Greogrio was wrongly labeled as the horse theif. Sheriff Morris then shots Roman in the face and then shots at Gregorio but misses. In return Gregorio shots back at Morris in self-defense. Gregrio left with Roman who is wounded and a massive man hunt takes place. As Gregorio runs from the law enforcement he receives help from other Mexican friends who eventually get punished for helping him. Becoming tired and ill Greogoio makes a stop at Abran de la Garza; where he is turned in to the authorities for a $100,000 reward by Jessus Gonzales "el Teco". …show more content…
Some major issues that affected Latino identity are the racial sterotypes, and the influnce of cowboy and horse culture. First let's address that Romaldo made the trade with an "American" in other words a white man, so it's their word against the American's; odds not in his favor. Sheriff Morris went there with no question they were guilty, and did not think twice to pull his trigger. I belief the Sheriff was racially profiling the two men based on his attitude towards them. When Gregoio finally received a fair trial he was found not guilty for the murder and it was only after his enimies conspiered against him, sending him back to trail and found guilty for riding the mare without