Always Running DJ #5

Chapter five begins with Luis’s initiation into the gang Los Lomas, one of the two major rival gangs responsible for escalating gang violence in the Valley by taking a beating for a couple of minutes by the existing members of the gang. In the gang, Luis had to drive a screwdriver into a man and the headlines of newspapers covered stories of he terror Los Lomas had been causing but didn't name names. With the heightening violence, community centers began opening to combat the violence. In one of these centers, Luis meets his mentor, Chente Ramirez. Chente possesses the streetwise demeanor that keeps him from being dismissed by gang members while exerting a positive influence. Even with Chente, Luis was still one of Los Lomas, hits on Sangra were still happening and even Luis's little sister Gloria had joined a younger set of Lomas girls. Until this point in Luis’s narrative, he had searched for direction and support in equally misguided friends, substance use, and short-lived youthful sexual relationships. Chente sparks Luis’s passion for social issues which begins to balance the barrage of negative influences that Luis has navigated thus far.

Always Running DJ #4

In chapter 4, Luis first talks about how his sister wakes him up with a show to the face and things turn when he talks about his suicide attempt. With all the trouble Luis had been in, his mother banished him to the garage and couldn't set foot in the house without permission. Luis had started high school a "loco" meaning crazy at Mark Keppel High School and was labeled a thug so instead of fighting it, he went along with it. Luis was 14 already got had gotten in a physical fight with his brother Joe, and Joe didn't return for 3 days. During the "Fiesta Days" Luis met Vivanna who he later falls in love with. Luis had gotten kicked out of school for fighting and continued to use "spray", he even died for a quick second and wish it had taken him so he could feel peace where there were no more monsters.  Later Luis attempted suicide again but realized he was of worth and went to his mother asking if he could breakfast with them which was like an apology.

Always Running DJ #3

In chapter 3, Luis had ruptured himself, it was life threatening so he was taken to the hospital and not only had surgery for the rupture but got circumcised. After his recovery, Luis and a few of his friends went to the beach and everything is well until some Anglos showed up and started yelling at the group, words were said, guns were drawn, and a badge, it was the police. They were taken to the local jail for questioning and further harassment. At this point, Luis had started as a paper boy, at the age of 13, he had a job at a local car wash. Yuk Yuk had taken Clavo's place in Los Cuarto, he had also gotten them involved in organized stealing. First it was candy from liquor stores, then actual liquor, to bikes to homes in Alhambra and a drive in where things got messy and shots were fired and luckily missed, they ran and left asap.

Always Running DJ #10

In the novel Always Running by Luis Rodriguez, in his final chapter, Luis decides to time to move on and leave his childhood home and way of life behind (gangbanging, drugs, violence, etc.) after some "friends" shot at him for trying to make a change. He moves to Chicago and although has gangs like back home, he acknowledges the world beyond South San Gabriel. Luis mentions he goes back and sees how things have changed, there are new residents in his older neighborhood, Mark Keppel students still fighting for whats right, community centers closed down, his murals covered. Towards the end of the book written in 1992, he married Camilla, and has two kids. While attending his niece's quince, Chava, an old acquaintance  blames Luis for his crippled condition and confronts him, Luis is able to calm him down and both are able to walk away unharmed and free of all the anger they've held on to.

Always Running DJ #9

In the novel Always Running by Luis Rodriguez, the author first starts out with his luck up and down like a roller coaster. Luis becomes president of ToHMAS, realizes his worth, is having some of his work published, gains money, gets a contract with Quinto Sol, graduates high school, attends Cal State LA and this is when his luck begins to turn. He gets a girl pregnant, she disappears and Luis ends up in jail again for "assaulting a police officer"when he was only trying to help a woman who was being brutalized by the police. After not being able to make bail, Luis and the woman, Licha, made a pact to visit each other once they were released. Luis's only chance was to plead guilty, when out tensions have built between the two and Licha tells Luis it won't work because he's too young for her.

Always Running DJ #8

In the novel Always Running by Luis J. Rodriguez, chapter eight begins with Luis in jail for, nonfatally, shooting a man where he befriends a member from the Sangra gang.Luis is released because Roger is accused and declared innocent. Again, conflicting influences have Luis in a precarious situation, but he has established a support system through his community involvement, and legalities keep him from long-term incarceration. After his release, Chente offers Luis an opportunity to oversee mural paintings and works with local muralists and discovers a new world being opened up to him and Luis becomes a significant figure in establishing and maintaining peace between the area’s rival gangs. 

Always Running DJ #7

In the novel Always Running by Luis J. Rodriguez, Luis takes part in what first started out as a peaceful anit-war rally called Chicano Moratorium Against The War but police show up and things escalate and riffles are brought out along with billy clubs and tear gas launchers. Luis along with other protesters were arrested and ends up in a cell next to Charles Manson. Later on, Vivana is back in the picture but soon breaks Luis's heart. As part of going back to school and getting more involved, Mrs. Baez recommends that Luis and Esme tryout for the school mascots, "The Aztecs". Luis begins attending meetings of Chante’s organization named “The Collective” where social issues are discussed and analyzed. Luis, somewhat emulating Chente while following his own passions, begins organizing school walk-outs, demanding classes that deal with Hispanic issues at the school, and realizes a sense of identity among a community cause.