Review Of Always Running, La Vida Loca By Luis Rodriguez

Discovering ones true sense in an ever changing process of acceptance is always something to be obtained. The book Always running, La Vida Loca: Gang days in L.A., by Luis Rodriguez is a descriptive autobiography that provides an insightful look into the youth subculture in East L.A youth subculture is defined as young children can explore their identity within a culture that differentiates itself from the outside culture set in schools, family, and work. Youth collectively make distinctive choice in their attire, hairstyle, dance, music choice etc. Rodriguez, struggles with transitioning into the American dominant culture and is looked at as an outcast by other ethnic and socioeconomic classes within society. Eventually he finds a sense

His family eventually moves to East LA when Rodrigues is a child. In East L.A. Rodriguez feels like an outcast because he does not speak English, his family is poor, and his skin color is not favorable. Rodriguez finds friends in other minority children and eventually forms his first clica with Thee Impersonations in Junior high school. This marks the turning point in Rodriguez life. His involvement with Las Lomas began to foster and he eventually became part one on of the major gangs in The Hills. As part of this gang Rodriguez has experienced many forms of violence, hatred, and death. In the gang he is exposed to drugs and other illegal acts of activities. However, as Rodrigues begins to grow and learn he realizes that his inhuman actions put a bad face to Chicano youth subculture in East L.A. Rodriguez eventually ends up in jail for defending women who was being brutalized by the police. Not an uncommon act in the Barrio. He is charged with disorderly conduct, assaulting an officer, and resisting arrest. Rodrigues prosecutor urges him to take a plea bargain. Rodrigues responds by saying, “No man, I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t assault no cops-they assaulted me! I have the scars to prove