Rodriguez’ struggles, in and out of gang life
社会学essay代做 Mrs. Baez, one of his teachers, welcomed him well and supported his ambitions. Together with writing, Luis started painting
Juvenile delinquency is a current Global controversial topic. Developmental factors that lead children to criminal youthfulness range from societal factors, family, troubled childhood among others. Luis Rodrigues was a Mexican immigrant to the United States who against all odds was able to battle gang-life and rejection from school to finally make it in life. This article, therefore, employs extensive research to enrich the reader with Rodriguez’ struggles, in and out of gang life. 社会学essay代做
Luis Rodriguez blames society, a bias American government and for the rejection and marginalization of immigrants. Having immigrated from Mexico to the United States, the US citizens did not consider the immigrants as one of them, so marginalization was practiced against all foreigners. The government, for instance, refused to offer his parents a good job regardless of their excellent academic qualifications simply because they could not speak native English. This made the family poor, thus living in the low-class neighborhoods controlled by gangs. The family had to move severally, seeking greener pastures but could not get a good job to sustain themselves.
Consequently, he also blames his peers for influencing him into gang life. 社会学essay代做
Luis made the ‘wrong' friends, who later introduced him to gang life while at his threshold of teenage life. Having carried the burden of alienation since childhood, Luis felt a sense of belonging by being embraced by the gangs. He, therefore, felt comforted by teaming up with three of his friends, who formed the "impersonations gang." The group engaged in minor crimes and moved from gang to gang until they later collaborated with more significant gangs like the “Animal Tribe Gang.”
The adolescent identity crisis and their thirst to join the gangs was fueled by the thug life in the streets (Rodriguez 22). The gang members wore heavy tattoos and were feared by everyone. As a way of ensuring safety, many youths joined the gangs to get protection from other criminals. As a result, yearning to feel might, like the other gangs, also fueled Luis’ entry into thug life. “They were tough. Everyone was scared of them. They had heavy tattoos,” recalled Rodriguez.
Rejection in school was also a factor that pushed him to street life. Luis could not make friends, even in school. For instance, he describes himself as an ‘outcast’ since the first day in school as he could not speak the same native English as the other students, a problem his father was facing while searching for a job. In school, he suffered racial prejudice as his skin tone was different from that of the native Americans. According to Rodriguez (41), he was isolated and constantly abused and targeted by Anglo kids. The humiliation experience was too much to bear and consequently his school attendance became a challenge hence dropping out. Sadly, his father could not offer any help given the biasness was evident in the country's law enforcement organs.
Chente Ramirez was a street-smart person who played a crucial role in rescuing Luis. 社会学essay代做
The two met at one of the community-help centers set up by organizations to tackle the rising crime levels. Chente taught Luis how to avoid being rejected or killed by the gang members while still positively impacting other teenagers’ lives. The goal was to gradually remove Luis from the streets while ensuring his safety. According to the gangs, the only way to leave was through imprisonment or death. Chente, therefore, had the task of rescuing Luis from both (Rodriguez 122). Through the help center, Luis’ love for social issues was sparked. Therefore, he began to shift from his criminal behaviors. Due to his preoccupation to social activities initiated by the social movements at the help centers, he began to register absenteeism in gang activities.
Chente finally convinced Luis to go back to school and join Student organizations. Chente's presence in Luis’ life helped in building his self-esteem that helped him face critics and neglect in school. Consequently, many students rallied behind him. Additionally, this helped establish a positive relationship between Luis and Chente. Luis began attending Chente's group events that discussed and analyzed societal concerns. Moreover, Luis started planning school demonstrations demanding for classes that addressed Spanish issues.
He further established a sense of belonging in the community, copying Chente’s ways in pursuing his ambitions. Consequently, the efforts by Luis led to lower rejection levels of foreign students. Luis’ decision to go back to school served as a stepping stone for his career advancements especially in writing and saving other gang members globally. 社会学essay代做
Prison life played a key role in molding Luis into a better person.
In a quest to prove his gang allegiance, Rodrigues killed a person leading to his arrest and conviction. While in prison, he decided to turn his life around, resolving to abstain from gang activities. Prison life served him with ample time to rethink his life. In prison, he decided to join evening English classes to ensure he could cope in classroom once he rejoined school after serving his sentence. In prison, he also began writing short stories (Rodriguez 180). He was also willing to change his behavior for the sake of his son’s future, if he, as a father, continued with the gang life. After his release, he became serious with school, and with the help of Chente, progressed positively.
Mrs. Baez, one of his teachers, welcomed him well and supported his ambitions. Together with writing, Luis started painting, consequently winning scholarship money for his artwork and he continued to oversee mural paintings (Rodriguez 192). Later on, Luis began peace making attempts between rival gangs, a task that was not an easy given his life was always at risk from the rebellious gangs.
The killing of all his friends with whom he had joined the gang life and the imprisonment of the rest also made him fear for his future. He oversaw the death of many of his gang friends, thus changing for the better. “By the time I turned 18 years old, 25 of my friends had been killed by rival gangs, police, drugs, car crashes and suicides.” (Rodríguez, 4).
Gang life is seen to be a ‘super life’ by young adolescents. This is fueled by the appeal for the ‘easiness’ of the lives of criminals because they earn without hard work (Woo 125). Most of the gang members are young, rich, and stealthy. The young teens also consider drugs as 'bombastic'; thus, resolving to join the groups.
Some people have illegal attachments due to early life experiences. 社会学essay代做
Most of the children tend to detach themselves from family at an early age and consequently grow in the streets where the hardships experienced in the streets harden them for life. Street life gives them a feeling of independence, victory, dominance, and liberty and as they enter the young adult stage, they are faced with identity crisis, hence resolving to seek gangs' asylum.
Victimization and criminalization are closely related factors that to contribute to a person’s criminal future. Some people have criminal attitudes as a result of disordered attachment styles and early life experiences. When children grow up within a harsh environment or face tormenting experiences in their life, they tend to exhibit the same during adolescence. Growing up in an environment where gang life and violence is a norm heightens the chances of the youth embracing a life of crime.
The gang members in the streets have a lot of money as they deal with lucrative activities like selling drugs, getting hired to carry out criminal acts, stealing, and other vices.
They splash the cash around parties and live 'nice' lives. Consequently, this triggers other young adults to be envious of the soft life, thus resolving to join crime. Availability of drugs also fosters criminalism. Under the influence of drugs, criminals find the courage to commit unlawful acts. Drug usage in the youth also causes addiction. Most of the youths are unemployed and have no steady source of money for the drugs. According to Woo (68), they, therefore, resolve to engage in criminal acts to obtain drug money. Improper law enforcement and corruption also foster criminal acts. The gangs know that they can get away with their crimes by bribing the police; thus, they are not afraid to engage in the thug activities as they have a way of escaping arrest. 社会学essay代做
Works Cited 社会学essay代做
Rodriguez, Luis J. Always running: La vida loca: Gang days in LA. Simon and Schuster, 2005.
Woo, D., et al. "Social psychology of gangs." The handbook of gangs (2015): 136-56.
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