Sometimes we pay even when there was no mistake, just for being who we are. I don't mind paying for my mistakes. But it seems like we're paying for everyone else's mistakes, too. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay - Luis Rodriguez Although injustices such as racial oppression are present in everyday life, it is often difficult to understand how such a large-scale crime can be solved through individual resistance alone. In the memoir Always Running, Luis Rodriguez recounts his methods of addressing social oppression and racial prejudice, ranging from conformist resistance to transformative resistance. As Rodriguez becomes fully entrenched in a drug-filled gang life, his mentor, Chente, inspires him to take a stand against the culture of heroin addiction through conformist resistance. Shortly thereafter, Rodriguez's efforts mature into what Daniel Solórzano and Dolores Bernal describe as transformative resistance, as he dedicates himself to targeting the oppression of Hispanic minorities at Keppel High School. As Luis grows up in a ruthless world dominated by Anglo-Saxons, he believes that the only power he has is to fulfill his stereotype: the role of criminal or gang member. Deeply conflicted by his commitments to the Lomas gang, Luis takes a step towards breaking up. the barriers of one's personal oppression with a firm refusal to indulge in drugs. At twelve years old, Rodriguez was already well versed in the culture of street life. Once he moves to Reseda, Rodriguez is introduced to the John Fabela Youth Center, where he meets Chente, the man who plays a crucial role in getting him out of gang life. “Chente played the roles of administrator, father figure, counselor, and law” (Rodriguez 146). For Luis, Chente is the influential mentor who offers him a better life, without drugs or street violence, and is the inspiration that allows him to engage in conformist resistance in his personal life. “Students today often identify transformative role models and mentors as influential people who inspire and encourage them to care about and fight for social justice issues in their school and community” (Solórzano and Bernal 6). Chente actively demonstrates his commitment to social justice with his progressive work in programs for disadvantaged youth, which ultimately commits Luis to greater involvement in the center. Luis slowly finds himself broadening his experiences and realizing that there is more to this world than surrounding himself with gang violence. By giving up the opportunity to use heroin, Luis is demonstrating that he is motivated to create a better life (with social justice), but that it can only start with personal change. It is not challenging existing systems of oppression (especially the major disadvantages faced by minorities forced to manage their gang-ridden neighborhoods). So Luis doesn't address the root of the problem: namely, that heroin and other drugs are easy to obtain in such crime-ridden neighborhoods. Luis is not trying to change institutional oppression here, but rather to create awareness of better opportunities for himself and his fellow gang members. Luis' resistance techniques soon evolve into a much more effective weapon in his attempt to gain recognition for his underrepresented minority culture. Arriving at Keppel High School and seeing the pronounced gap between the racial classes, Luis decides to bring more recognition to the Chicano population by auditioning for the part of the Aztec mascot..