Essay on American Me - 1549 Words

American Me American Me The film; American Me is an epic depiction of 30 years of Chicano gang life in Los Angeles, California. The movie focuses on the life of a 1950s teen named Montoya Santana, who forms a gang with his close friends. The gang is arrested for a break-in, and sentenced to time in juvenile hall. Santana finds trouble on his first night in juvenile hall and goes from juvenile hall to prison for 18 years. There he created and led a powerful gang that operated both inside and outside the prison. When released from Folsom Prison, he tries to make sense of the violence in his life, in a world that has changed greatly. Inspired by a true story, the film provides a fictionalized account of the founding and rise to†¦show more content†¦White sailors invaded Mexican American communities and attacked Zoot Suitors. The city police did nothing to restrain the sailors, who grabbed the Hispanic teenagers, tore off and burned their clothes, cut off their hair, and beat them. However , when Hispanics tried to fight back, the police moved in and arrested them. After the Zoot Suit riots, LA passed a law prohibiting the wearing Zoot Suits† (www.stufflikethat.org, 2010) It was during these riots that Santana’s parents Pedro and Esperanza were attacked. After being beaten, Pedro was arrested by local police for being a Zoot Suitor. Violently raped, Esperanza had her clothes torn off by a multitude of Caucasian sailors. The film brings the viewer forward in time to 1959 with Santana as a young man of 16 growing up in the barrios with his friends and fellow gang members Mundo and JD. After being arrested and sent to juvenile hall, Santana has his â€Å"manhood† taken from him on the first night and murders the man who sodomized him. The power and respect that killing this man brought from his peers was intoxicating; his act also brought him a long prison sentence. During many years of incarceration, Santana and his gang affiliates grew their business and their numbers both inside and outside the prison. Upon his release from prison, he was surprised how much life and the barrios had changed. Santana struggled as he observed the power plays between the Italian mafia, the Black Guerillas,Show MoreRelated Pursuit of the American Dream in Catch Me If You Can and Blow1292 Words   |  6 Pagesthe American D ream in â€Å"Catch Me If You Can† and â€Å"Blow† â€Å"Catch Me If You Can† is a true story based on a man who cheated large corporations out of their money, after growing up in a small town in poverty. â€Å"Blow† is very similar in that it is based on the true events of a man who worked the drug cartel for millions of dollars, after growing up with his parents in the slums. 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Released to the national theater circuit in 1992, American Me depicts the life of Rodolfo Cadena, a ranking Carnal (gang member) in the prison gang La Eme, also known as the Mexican Mafia. To therapeutically approach the salience and pervasiveness of gang membership, including its allure and reinforcers, would be aRead MorePersonal Statement : My Own Working Industry882 Words   |  4 PagesDallas, TX on Jan. 16th, 1998. Being a product of two military parents, I easily comprehend the sacrifice one makes for their country by having them absent in my life stage when I was younger. Sacrifice creates integrity and courage within me which will help me gain the humility and motivation to make a difference. Today; I decided to share my experience and help other teens with the harshness of deployment. Currently, I’m a member of the Army Reserve Teen Panel of th e United States. 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As previously stated I had to become more culturally competent about working with African American clients before I started seeing the client. Furthermore, I had to become aware of the difficulties that would be present due to our age difference. I made sure to give Betty the opportunity to tell me how situations made her feel, and empathized with her, making sure to help her feel as though I understood even though I was much younger and hadRead MoreIdentify And Describe Characteristics Of Leaders That Inspire Me My Professional Life828 Words   |  4 PagesThis inventory tool will help me to identify and describe characteristics of leaders that inspire innovate me in my profe ssional life. After I meet this lady my skills and inspiration of help people has growth a 100 % move, because now am clear of what do I want to continue doing for the rest of my life. I learned to be stronger and good decision that will help and demonstrate that our organization is there to help and stable family’s lives. This Director is one of the pioneers of homeless shelter