Week 4, Blog #3 Generational Gang Membership

Armando Frias, a migrant farm worker at one point of his life, tells the story of entering gang life with a sense of pride. He and fellow members rallied together to become a unit in the midst of the farm workers struggle. Although the UFW leader Cesar Chavez characterized his movement with non-violence the gangs of Salinas chose other methods to accomplish their goals.
From Armando’s retelling there was a sense of belonging, comradery, and gangs allowed the displaced farm workers to not feel like outsiders. The gang that Armando Frias joined was not the gang that his son “Lil Mondo” joined. The gangs may have the same name but the purpose of the gang at the point of entry for Lil Mondo was far more complex from the point of entry for his father Armando Senior.
Another issue that struck me was when Lil Mondo began telling the story of killing a man at age nineteen. He was willing to forfeit his whole life at that age because he “believed in the cause” (Nuestra Familia, Our Family, 2006). What is the cause? What makes a nineteen year old kill another man because he feels he is expected to in order to defend the cause?
According to the Center for Investigative Reporting, “The Cause” is the secret guiding philosophy professed by Norteños to defend and support each other and their Nuestra Familia brethren in prison. The underlying values of The Cause are usually taught to young Norteños by experienced elders (Center for Investigative Reporting, 2011).
The biggest shock for me in the film was when we learn that the order for Lil Mondo to kill the gang drop-out came from an FBI informant (Nuestra Familia, Our Family, 2006). Lil Mondo did state that he understood that what he did was wrong, but he felt that he was carrying out the commands of his leader. To find out your leader is behind enemy lines per se has to be devastating. It doesn’t mean he shouldn’t have to do the time for the killing, but you know his eyes were opened to the fact that he was loyal to someone that did not return that loyalty. To add insult to injury that person is free with $52,000 from the federal government really rubs salt in the wound.
Armando discussed breaking his parole in order to spend time with his son in prison (Nuestra Familia, Our Family, 2006). He knew that his son was there because of the choices he had made at his son’s age. The generational gang activity for this family may be broken. Because Armando is able to see that he led his son down this road. As well his son Lil Mondo understands that The Cause he believed in was false they both will be able to raise Lil Mondo’s son to understand that violence and gang activity can lead you behind prison or dead.
Epi Cortina a former captain of the NF discussed “educating” the soldiers. Willie Stokes-Ramirez, one of the members Epi Cortina taught, described with a feeling of empowerment that upon learning the Norteños laws that he felt he was “going to do something for his raza” or his people (Nuestra Familia, Our Family, 2006). I found this part interesting because Epi Cortina describes teaching the members about Aztec society, basic education, and skills to make weaponry and then how to rob a bank and kill people. My perception of this is that they took these kids and built a sense of pride in them. Created a cause that they are meant to be something and do something in life. Yet, at this point instead of drawing a positive path for them to follow they were instructed in criminal activity.

"Nuestra Familia, Our Family." (2006) Films on Demand. Web. 27 Jun 2011. .

Center for Investigative Reporting, Initials. (2011, June 27). Gangs glossary. Retrieved from http://www.nuestrafamiliaourfamily.org/pages/glossary.html