“I had to find meaning in it. So I go through this, I see all these homies die; I see all this terrible devastation, people sitting in prison. I've been saved from prison, from death, and from heroine addiction. What am I going to do with that?” PeopleDiesTerribleSittingPrisonAddictionSavedFind MeHeroinesDevastationHomies Author:Luis J. Rodriguez
“I'm not against knowing the history of white people in the U.S. - that's not the point. The point is that there's so much greater history. We don't know about Native Americans. Very basically, we don't know that much about African American history, except that they were enslaved. You only get bits and pieces.” PeopleKnowsBitsWhiteKnowingGreaterPiecesAfrican AmericanNativeNative AmericanAmerican HistoryBits And PiecesAfrican American History Author:Luis J. Rodriguez
“If young people had love, hope, true education, the arts, full and meaningful lives they won’t join gangs. My life since living the gang and drugs has been directed to making positive what it means to be Chicano, human, man, woman, and on how to draw out the imagination and creativity that all people have.” PeopleIfsMenHumansMeanHas BeensArtYoungImaginationCreativityDrugDrawsLeavingMeaningfulGangMen WomenMeaningful LifeImagination And CreativityTrue EducationHope Love Author:Luis J. Rodriguez
“We need more leaders among our gente - more teachers, politicians, businesspeople, organizers, and such. Turn the energy that many young people are putting into "war" and "death" and put it into life and true justice.” PeopleNeedsWarYoungTurnsEnergyJusticeLeaderTeacherPoliticianOrganizerTrue JusticeWar And Death Author:Luis J. Rodriguez
“We [people] all need each other. Gangs do try to fill that void - but they can't do what healthy, balanced, and coherent families and communities can do. Let's strengthen our core relationships from the start - and all the way through a young person's life. This is the best way to avoid the growth of deadly and crime-involved gangs.” PeopleWayNeedsTryingPersonsYoungGrowthCan DoCommunityCrimeInvolvedHealthyCoreBest WayVoidBalancedGang Author:Luis J. Rodriguez
“Art is the heart's explosion on the world. Music. Dance. Poetry. Art on cars, on walls, on our skins. There is probably no more powerful force for change in this uncertain and crisis-ridden world than young people and their art. It is the consciousness of the world breaking away from the strangle grip of an archaic social order.” PeopleWorldHeartArtYoungPoetryOrderForceSocialChangePowerfulConsciousnessMusicPowerCarWallArt IsSkinsCrisisDanceUncertaintyUncertainExplosionsSocial OrderWorld MusicStranglingBreaking Away Author:Luis J. Rodriguez
