Frank de Jesús Acosta - Latino Young Men and Boys in Search of Justice: Testimonies

Latino Young Men and Boys in Search of Justice

Testimonies

Testimonies

EDITED BY
Frank de Jess Acosta

CO-EDITED
Henry A. J. Ramos

FOREWORD
Luis J. Rodrguez, Author of Always Running

Latino Young Men and Boys in Search of Justice is funded in part by grants from The California Endowment, California Community Foundation, Marguerite Casey Foundation, City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, W. K. Kellogg Foundation and the Sierra Health Foundation. We are grateful for their support.

Recovering the past, creating the future

Arte Pblico Press
University of Houston
4902 Gulf Fwy, Bldg 19, Rm 100
Houston, Texas 77204-2004

Cover art by Alberto Symon
Cover design by Mora Des!gn

Names: Jess Acosta, Frank de, editor. | Ramos, Henry A. J.,

1959- editor.

Title: Latino young men and boys in search of justice : testimonies / edited by Frank de Jesus Acosta and Henry A. J. Ramos ; foreword: Luis J. Rodriguez, Author of Always Running.

Description: Houston, TX : Arte Publico Press, 2016.

Identifiers: LCCN 2015025479 | ISBN 9781558858213 (alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: Juvenile justice, Administration ofUnited States. | Hispanic American youthUnited States. | Juvenile delinquencyUnited States.

Classification: LCC HV9104 .L327 2016 | DDC

364.36089/68073dc23

LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015025479

CIP

The paper used in this publication meets the requirements of the American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1984.

2015 by Arte Pblico Press
Printed in the United States of America

15 16 17 18 19 20 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Dedication

Richard Montoya

Frank de Jess Acosta

Frank de Jess Acosta and Henry A.J. Ramos

Luis J. Rodrguez

Frank de Jess Acosta

Richard Montoya

Javier Stauring

Frank de Jess Acosta and Jerry Tello

George Galvis

Daniel Nane Alejandrez

Frank de Jess Acosta

Freddie Gutirrez

Ramn Escobar, Jr.

Cruz J. Ramrez

Anthony Querubn

Jorge Mestayer

Juan Guardado

Johnny Howe

Scott Dean Russo

JB

Javier Xavier Haro

Geraldo Monkey Martnez

Freddie Gutirrez

Frank de Jess Acosta

Adrin

Jess

Jorge

Hugo

Freddy Gutirrez

Ramn Escobar, Jr.

Javier Xavier Haro

Geraldo Monkey Martnez

Michael Muscadine

Rubn Leal

Juan Martnez

Roberto Martnez

Michael Roybal

Frank de Jess Acosta

Alberto Symon, a.k.a Beto

Sal Cortez, Jr., a.k.a. Chamuco

Sergio A. Rangel

Rene Enriquez

Garcia

Frankie Alejandrez

Javier Xavier Haro

CURYJ

Frank de Jess Acosta

Toms Alejo

Frank de Jess Acosta and Henry A. J. Ramos

Our undying gratitude and appreciation for the support, partnership, leadership, contributions, friendship, love and prayers of those who made this publication and community education project possible. Particularly, Dr. Nicols Kanellos, Dr. Gabriela Baeza Ventura, Dr. Gail C. Christopher, Luz E. Bentez Delgado, Dr. Robert K. Ross, Luz Vega-Marquis, Robert Phillips, Antonia Hernndez, Nike Irvin, Peter Rivera, Charles Fields, Beatriz Sols, Ray Colmenar and Michael Palumbo (Graduate Fellow and Advisor).

We especially wish to acknowledge our institutional partners and supporters: namely, our publishers and project sponsors Arte Pblico Press at the University of Houston and the Insight Center for Community Economic Development, as well as our funders: The California Endowment, Marguerite Casey Foundation, W. K. Kellogg Foundation and the Sierra Health Foundation.

We could not have found such powerful creative voices and works to feature here without the incredible work and goodwill of our organizational partners and their committed staff: The National Compadres Network, Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos, Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, Ta Chuchas Centro Cultural and Bookstore, Homies Unidos, Catholic Prison Ministries/Healing Justice Coalition, La Plazita Institute, Homeboy Industries, Policy Link, the Gathering for Justice and Inside Out Writers (Leslie Poston). Arte Pblico Press (Nellie Gonzales and Matthew Hall); The Insight Center for Community Economic Development (Michael Palumbo and Brad Caftel); CURYJ (Freddy Gutirrez, Michael Muscadine, Jos Luis Pavn, Rubn Leal, and Rana Halpern); Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos (Cynthia Gutirrez, Jennifer Barajas, Ftima RodrguezOrtiz and Edgar Puga).

We gratefully acknowledge the valued assistance of our impressive council of project advisors: Jerry Tello, Luis J. Rodrguez, Nane Alejandrez, Father Greg Boyle, Rubn Lizardo, Richard Montoya, George Galvis, Albino Garca, Jr., Alex Snchez, Javier Stauring, Carmen Prez, Luis Cardona and Toms Alejo.

Additionally, we express special gratitude to our personal circle of loving support and creative inspiration: Mara Acosta, Luis Garca, Claudia Lenschen-Ramos, Gregory Ramos, Kiki Ramos Gindler, Jos Fonseca, Alejandro Delgadillo, Pat Shibuya, Jerry Tello, Donald and Tawnya, Bill Bamish, John Palumbo, Otilio Quintero, Henry Domnguez, Arturo Ybarra, Gary and Nancy Kobayashi, Peter Nishita, Linda Bowen, Dr. Guadalupe Rivera Marn, Evangeline Ordz and Armando Molina, Lorraine Garca-Nakata, Anne Laddon, Sasha Irving, Mary Legleiter, Mariano and Ruby Daz; and Carmen, Joe, Cecilia and Henry, Ronnie, Yvette, Michael and Willie A, Jojo, Roz and Mark, Familia Fonseca; and Rolling Stone, Katie, Anthony, Michael, Marc, Johnny, Lisa, Anthony, Christopher, Daniela, Mariano Jr. Pops and Jason; Spirit RelationsCecilia Sandoval, Michael Balaoing, Richard Verches, Blanca Almeida, Bong Hwan Kim, Debbie Ching, Stewart Kwoh, Connie Rice, Sandra Gutirrez, Tom David, Gabby Gonzales, Ramn Miramontes, Albesa Ybarra, Blair Chambers, Rubn and Sarah Gonzales, Sally Lew, Antonio Manning, Angel Zapata, John Castillo, Marvin Thurman, Mike Lpez, Benny Torres, Vusi, Mandla, Fran Jemmott, Gaylord, Shedrick, Venice, Jitu Sadiki, Anthony Alejandrez and Magdalena Beltrn del Olmo; Barrio Whittier (Patrick Irish, Paul-Mick-Matt, Jessie and Carol, Metz, Limon, Klein, Kiko, Tocayo Frank, John Q & V, Skip, Cholo Pat, Bobby, Yvonne, Victor P, the JTS and Tubbys gang. Rest in Peace Papa John Palumbo, Helen Verches, Esperanza Lizardo and John Caldwell, who passed to the spirit world during the becoming of this book.

In Loving Memory of Jos Montoya

This book is dedicated to Movimiento Warrior Poet, maestro Jos Montoya. Jos passed into the spirit world in September 2013. He was truly one of the seminal activist-artists, muralists, poets, writers, musicians and educators who used their gifts in the cultural arts to advance freedom, the struggle for justice, pluralism and human dignity for Chicano, Latino and Indigenous people.

Frank de Jess Acosta