Analysis Of Tattoos On The Heart

Tattoos on the Heart encompasses many themes, but Fr. Boyle predominantly focuses on life and death. In one distinct instance, Fr. Boyle depicts the story of an unnamed sixteen-year-old homegirl who tells him, with such joy, that she is pregnant. Fr. Boyle is unable to hide his disappointment, which leads the homegirl to say “I just want to have a kid before I die.” (90) This narrative was unfamiliar to my own life experiences, which consequently made the story difficult to relate to. Growing up in a middle class neighborhood I was never fully exposed to death that occurs in young adults due to gang violence, as a result I never knew what it was like to genuinely fear for my life or believe that I was going to die before I turned eighteen.

In “Tattoos on the Heart,” by Gregory Boyle, Boyle experiences how to deal with gangs. The novel, a compelling story about gang violence and one man’s response towards giving those buried within it, tells a story of gang members working for a chance of redemption and solace. Can others be seen as fathers or even as a role models when gang life is such a large force in their lives? Through the story gangbangers that try to change themselves for the pursuit of a better future and a desire to succeed and escape gang life, Boyle tells an emotional, human story about life in the Los Angeles barrios. Boyle characteristics represent him as a father for three gang bangers: Joey Cesar, and Scrappy. While

In Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream (1963)” speech, he addresses the idea that in order to fulfill the premise that “all men were created equal,” the people of the nation must work together to move past the injustices inflicted on African Americans in order to ultimately grant them their civil rights. King’s claim is supported by first repeatedly alluding to historically renowned milestones in the fight against oppression and illustrating numerous metaphors to create an emotional connection with his audience. King’s “dream” that he frequently mentions is the nationwide unification to work toward a common goal in order to bring integration of all races and coexist without oppression. By establishing his goal, he creates an earnest

In Martin Luther King Jr's I Have a Dream speech, King talks about how unequal the treatment between African Americans and whites were. His views America as a segregated country. In many instances, he talks about slavery and how oppressed the slaves were. King uses many anaphoras such as “Negro” and “inequality” to convey his ideas. One of his most repeated phrases and his most famous one is “I have a dream”, after which he talks of a country without any segregation or discrimination. During his speech, King says “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character”. He views America as one that is split. During that time period, there was segregation and discrimination. His dream involves an America that will be united where people can see each other as equals. This is the main idea behind speech. After each of these phrases, King says “I have a dream today”, which signifies that this is a big issue and needs to be resolved quickly. In this speech, King describes America as one that is divided, where the promise of equality is a lie.

For instance Boyle a addresses the gang members with genuine love through the word of God, kinship, and compassion. Boyle solution to helping gang members is by providing them with a new image; by removing their tattoos and providing new clothing as well as helping them get jobs. Additionally Tatum states that racism is still a big problem in our society, and that their is still segregation among our communities. Tatum believes that racism starts at an early age and therefore we should educate our children. Finally Courtney explains the crisis with our society. She claims that we are not finding steady employment, and not earning as much. She states that the American Dream is dead. Courtney’s philosophy is that we should live more like our ancestors. Meaning helping each other, watching over our community, and caring for one another. Also we should work like our mothers taking care of the family, caring for the home, and have more flexible time. In fact we should ask kids how do you want to live; not what would you like to

“Without a struggle, there can be no progress” -Frederick Douglas. In today's society, people tend to give up on themselves and others very easily if things aren’t moving in a positive direction. This idea is shown in the book “Tattoos on the Heart - The Power of Boundless Compassion”, written by Fr. Gregory Boyle. Fr. Gregory is a native of California and is a Jesuit priest currently working at Homeboy Industries in Central Los Angeles. Homeboy industries is a gang intervention program that focuses on helping gang members get out of the bad situations that they are in. He has spent the majority of his adult life dedicating his time to help gang members become productive members of society and to find their faith for nearly 30 years. In his

In Tattoos on the Heart, Gregory Boyle uses a variety of his experiences from meeting a variety of people, and many of these lessons can be applied to our lives as we are meeting new people and building new relationships. One of the main points that Boyle emphasizes throughout his book is not to judge a person based on their exterior appearance.

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.’" (King 12). Dr. King used his resources to relate to the Declaration of Independence When it says that "all men are created equal." Today, everyone, black, white, yellow, male, or female, enjoy equal rights. “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.” (King 4). Unconditional love for all peoples is a great quality that King had, and many people today have modeled after. “When you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-year-old daughter why she cannot go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her little eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children” (King 12). Now, all children are permitted in amusement parks. Many black children also couldn’t get an education. Today everyone from kindergarten to twelfth grade is entitled to acquire a free education. “I have a dream that … children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” (King 18). Now, people are judged by their character. Anyone can achieve anything today, no matter who they are. It doesn’t matter the race, it doesn’t

After reading the first three chapters of Tattoos on the Heart, I was able to relate to Memo at the end of chapter three. Memo discovered the compassion that he has for others after simply hearing about people who live in places where they ought not to live. Though I live a much different life from Memo, I experienced this feeling when I went to Haiti for the first time. I went to Haiti with factual knowledge that Haiti was a country that lived in poverty, and that they could not seem to catch a break from traumatic events occurring in their country. However, I did not realize the extent of their living conditions until I was on the bus, riding to the compound that I would be staying in for the week.

Likewise, Dr. King stood in a place of great significance. Here, in front of the statue of President Lincoln, is where he will present his infamous “I Have a Dream” speech and it is evident of the great significance it represents. It was in 1863 that President Lincoln fought to abolish slavery and by coincidence, one hundred years later, Dr. King will be addressing more than 200,000 demonstrators fighting the same fight. On this day Dr. King will articulately responds to Governor Wallace’s speech that had taken place seven months prior. As the prominent Dr. King put it, “Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children” (archives.gov). In other words, Dr. King is stating, that equality and fair justice should not be based on, ethnicity, color, or status, but in essence we are all created equal and ought to live harmoniously.

Father Gregory Boyle, however, does not. Father G, as the “homies” call him, has dedicated his entire life to showing compassion to gang members in Los Angeles. Father G founded Homeboy Industries, a place that “provides hope, training, and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated men and women” (HomeBoyIndustries.org). In his Nonfiction book titled, “Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion,” Father Gregory Boyle offers personal anecdotes and authentic narratives, providing readers a glimpse into his experiences working with former gang members.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream even today, 52 years later, has still not been fully fulfilled. However, some elements of the dream have been completed, such as the fact of, “...little African American boys and African American girls... [are]...able to join hands with little white boys and white girls...” (Para 21 "I Have a Dream.") and that people now able “...live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin....” (Para 19 "I Have a Dream.") But there is still not the level of fulfillment that the dream demands. These

John F. Kennedy’s speech was proving to the nation, and world, that with him, nothing could bring America down. “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty” (Kennedy 511). Martin Luther King delivered a much more emotional speech which showed he was extremely genuine about his cause. In “I Have a Dream”, Martin uses his beliefs and past experiences to join the people together. Martin lived in a time where all Americans were promised “the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (King 371), but the white men still segregated the black men.

In the speech “I Have a Dream” by Martin Luther King Jr., from the American Rhetoric website, explains how he had a vision for African Americans to be as equal as white Americans, as segregation was an issue. The speech is especially memorable for King Jr. repeating the title numerous times following scenarios of equality and unity between African and white Americans. As a reverend, King Jr. uses a plethora of rich language throughout the speech, which was unique and new for a speech to the general public. Even though Martin Luther King Jr. acknowledges that the promise of equality for African Americans was not satisfied, more importantly, the speech reflects the specific strategies and style of the clergy.

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed-we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.” This was a quote by Martin Luther King Jr. He believed in the idea of equality for all men, in a world where a black man and a white man can walk together side by side, a world without segregation, jobs and equal pay for the people. Martin Luther led one of the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of the United States. As a civil right activist, he stood for equal rights for all people and he led a great march of over two hundred and fifty thousand civil right supporters for quality and the end of racism in the United States. His speech “I have a dream” paved the way in setting a decisive moment for the American civil rights movement in the country.