Luis J. Rodríguez est un poète et journaliste dont l'œuvre s'est imposée comme l'une des voix littéraires chicanas les plus importantes des États-Unis. Ses écrits offrent une documentation approfondie de la vie urbaine et des expériences des immigrés mexicains. Rodríguez transforme des thèmes de violence, de dépendance et de rédemption, issus de son propre passé difficile, en récits captivants. Par sa production littéraire et son activisme communautaire, il milite pour le changement social et la résolution des conflits.
This collection contains first-person testimonials--essays, poetry and letters--by Latino men and boys who have been or are incarcerated, along with articles by system reform advocates. The editors seek to humanize disadvantaged Latino young men while calling attention to the need for a restorative rather than punitive justice system
Focusing on healing through community building, the author draws on thirty years of experience with gangs in Los Angeles and Chicago to propose transformative change. He emphasizes creating nonviolent opportunities for youth, urging society to prioritize community values over material gain. Personal motivation drives his mission, as he dedicates the book to his son, who faced incarceration for gang-related activities. Through anecdotes, interviews, and practical guidelines, the book advocates for strengthening community life to combat gang influence on children.
Pioneering black-and-gray tattoo artist Freddy Negrete was twelve years old and confined in the holding cell of a Los Angeles juvenile facility when an older teenager entered—covered in tattoos. Freddy was in awe, not just of the art, but of what it symbolized, and he wanted what this kid the potent sense of empowerment and belonging that came from joining a gang. The encounter drove Freddy to join the notorious gang La Sangra, and it didn't take long before he was a regular guest at LA County's juvenile detention facilities. By the age of twenty-one, Freddy had spent almost his whole life as a ward of the state in one form or the other.Enthralled by the black-and-gray tattoo style that in the 1970s was confined to the rebel culture of Chicano gangsters and criminals, Freddy started inking himself with hand-poked tattoos. Everyone wanted a piece of Freddy's black-and-gray style--gangbangers but also Hollywood starlets and film producers.In a riveting narrative that takes the reader from Freddy's days as a cholo gang member to evangelical preacher to Hollywood body art guru to addiction counselor, Smile Now, Cry Later is, ultimately, a testament to that spark within us all, that catalyst which gives us the strength to survive, transform, and transcend all that can destroy us.
This anthology captures a fifteen-year journey through real American life, showcasing the diverse experiences from East Los Angeles to Indiana. It delves into the interplay of personal and political themes, offering a blend of humor, passion, and grace. The collection emphasizes both the emotional depth and technical aspects of poetry, reflecting the resilience and complexity of democracy in verse.
Luis J. Rodriguez writes about race, culture, identity, and belonging and what these all mean and should mean (but often fail to) in the volatile climate of our nation. His passion and wisdom inspire us with the message that we must come together if we are to move forward. As he writes in the preface, “Like millions of Americans, I’m demanding a new vision, a qualitatively different direction, for this country. One for the shared well-being of everyone. One with beauty, healing, poetry, imagination, and truth.” The pieces in From Our Land to Our Land capture that same fantastic energy and wisdom and will spark conversation and inspiration.
The award-winning and bestselling classic memoir about a young Chicano gang member surviving the dangerous streets of East Los Angeles, now featuring a new introduction by the author.Winner of the Carl Sandburg Literary Award, hailed as a New York Times notable book, and read by hundreds of thousands, Always Running is the searing true story of one man’s life in a Chicano gang—and his heroic struggle to free himself from its grip.By age twelve, Luis Rodriguez was a veteran of East Los Angeles gang warfare. Lured by a seemingly invincible gang culture, he witnessed countless shootings, beatings, and arrests and then watched with increasing fear as gang life claimed friends and family members. Before long, Rodriguez saw a way out of the barrio through education and the power of words and successfully broke free from years of violence and desperation.Achieving success as an award-winning poet, he was sure the streets would haunt him no more—until his young son joined a gang. Rodriguez fought for his child by telling his own story in Always Running, a vivid memoir that explores the motivations of gang life and cautions against the death and destruction that inevitably claim its participants.At times heartbreakingly sad and brutal, Always Running is ultimately an uplifting true story, filled with hope, insight, and a hard-earned lesson for the next generation.
In "Music of the Mill," Luis J. Rodriguez depicts a gritty America where the steel industry shapes lives. The story follows the Salcido family over three generations, exploring their pursuit of the American Dream amidst racial alliances and industrial decline. Rodriguez intertwines family bonds with the crumbling steel industry, highlighting themes of hope, ethics, and societal challenges.
The narrative centers on the impactful work of Dr. Diana Frade and Bishop Leo Frade, who established Our Little Roses Home for Girls in Honduras over twenty-five years ago. The book features essays by Spencer Reece and Luis J. Rodríguez that complement the stories of the girls living there. Additionally, it includes a foreword and afterword by renowned poets Marie Howe and Richard Blanco, enhancing the emotional depth and significance of the girls' voices and experiences.