Personal Dictionary(Always Running)

Personal Dictionary

Crossfire

Meaning: A confrontational situation in which opposing factions, forces, views, or opinions converge:

An Example: Miguel died in the crossfire.

Quote: “Those who were in between or indifferent couldn't help but get caught in the crossfire.”

Why it matters: Luis and his friends are often caught in the crossfire of society. Things such as racism, brutality, and hostility between gangs often cause the people in the middle to get hurt and put in danger.

Questions: Would Luis’ life be different if his family had not moved into the barrios, by different i mean would he be in gangs or fall under the influence still or would the new environment change his decisions on life?

 Injustices

Meaning: lack of fairness or justice.

An Example: My mother in her broken English could remedy few of the injustices, but she tired.

Why it matters: Rodriguez and the rest of the Chicano community often face injustice from the rest of American.

Questions: Would Rodriguez have faced injustice if he was any other race?

Spanish

Meaning: of or relating to Spain, its people, or its language.

An example: If a Spanish word sneaked out in the playground, kids were often sent to the office to get swatted or to get detention

Why it matters: Spanish is the key to Chicano culture that is censored by the community.

Question: How did speaking Spanish affect the people who were against it being spoken?

Authority

Meaning: the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.

An Example: he had absolute authority over his subordinates"

Why it matters: Authority is abusive to the Chicano community, at times unjustified.

Questions: Is the abusive authority justified?

Criminal

Meaning: Of, involving, or having the nature of crime

An example: My neighbor was once a criminal

Why it matters: The Chicano community is often seen as criminals, even when most of them are not even criminals.

Questions: How are people able to label themselves as criminals?

Alone

Meaning: having no one else present; on one's own.

An example: I always felt alone even within my own family.

Why it matters: The Chicano youth always felt alone leading them to create gangs for a sense of community.

American Dream

Meaning: the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative.

An Example: He can achieve the American dream by working hard.

Why it matters: Rodriguez and his family came to American to achieve the American dream