Activist and author Luis J. Rodriguez gives Grossmont students insight on his life-changing experiences as an ex- Los Angeles gangster.

The Grossmont College English Department’s creative writing program hosted “La Lucha de la Literatura” as the last presentation of the Literary Arts Festival on May 1st at the Griffin Gate.  The Festival, a week-long series of organized events to celebrate literature on campus, had Luis J. Rodriguez as a guest speaker to tell his story.  Rodriguez, Latin author and speaker, has written award-winning books that are now used in jails, juvenile halls, and have even been banned, such as “Always Running”.

“Always Running”, and its sequel, “It Calls You Back” are some of his hyped books of vivid detail on gang life, addiction, and the redemption of overcoming that lifestyle. Having joined a gang at age 11, Rodriguez lived a dangerous life that led him to drug addiction, violence, and gang activity. Rodriguez explained that he had always felt a feeling of injustice.  It was a constant thought that lingered in his mind, unheard or unspoken of. At age 18, Rodriguez found how to fulfill this empty thought of injustice.  When being sentenced and having Heroine withdrawals, he recognized this as a turning point.

Rodriguez spoke about his journey as a writer, and how writing helped him replace the intensity of gang-related activity with a more positive intensity to revolutionize society.  “A lot of my English teachers told me I would never amount to anything… I wish I could show them all my books!” Rodriguez claimed he had been writing poems even before his fame, such as one that he shared with his audience, “Calling”, written at age 16, but his writing began to fulfill the purpose to cure this injustice that he knew. After becoming a speaker to many inmates and teens in juvenile halls, he came across people who would spend the rest of their lives in jail, and still felt the compassion to speak to them about redemption and finding purpose.

Rodriguez said he was inspired by revolutionary idols such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.  He brought their success to the audience’s attention to show how he related to these figures; he held a purpose now to change the way people think and to not be accepting of unjust social norms.

He emphasized his goal as a writer saying it is “to get the story out there and fight for everyone to be heard”.  And his audience was all for this idea as Rodriguez received various applauds.

“You don’t have to stop being who you are to be your most educated and highest self”, Rodriguez encouraged his audience to stay true to themselves as they overcome their own trials.