Like a lot of young kids growing up in a poor inner-city area, Luis finds himself systematically excluded from society, held down by a culture of discrimination and low expectations. In such a grim environment, street gangs provide a kind of surrogate family with a sense of belonging. Luis grows up surrounded by these gangs in all corners of the neighborhood. They're full of tough, scary men with tattoos who always seem to command fear and respect. Luis wants to be just like them; he wants the respect he doesn't get from society as a young Hispanic male; he wants to be a part of something. Then again, Luis doesn't really have much choice in the matter. As a poor barrio kid with little in the way of an education, there's always been the expectation that Luis will get involved in gang activity sooner or later. Otherwise, there's a serious danger that he might end up being seriously beaten or even killed.
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