Look @ Sociology and You

                                            Look @ Sociology and You

Sociology can be defined as the study of groups and their interactions. As opposed to psychologists, who like to focus more one on one related problems, Sociologists like to study big groups of people and try to understand why they are the way they are, and even try to make a connection between those groups of people and the past history. As C. Wright Mills talks about in his “The Sociological Imagination” article, “Seldom aware of the intricate connection between the patterns of their own lives and the course of world history, ordinary people do not usually know what this connection means for the kinds of people they are becoming and for the kinds of history-making in which they might take part.” The way we are brought up, the conditions in which we are brought up, the neighborhood in which we are brought up, the people who helped raise us, etc, all plays a role in the way we function and the way we work independently, and also as a society. But how is all this information helpful to us? By studying society and gathering information about how we work as a group, how is it helping us as an individual and as a whole society?

Many moons ago, the term sociology was coined (1780 to be exact) by Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyes; and since then many other sociologists have had their input into what sociology means and how it is shaping us for the better or for the worse. Sociologists have had their agreements and disagreements for example- Karl Marx thought that society changed due to the struggle of the different social classes and the inequalities of capitalism. Philosopher Herbert Spencer rejected Karl’s ideas and theories of class difference and struggle, and he believed that a government was needed in order to control capitalism. George Herbert Mead “argued that how and individual comes to view himself or herself is based to a very large extent on interactions with others.” For decades, there have been people interested in the study of society as a whole, and it is interesting to learn how their (sociologists) theories and views have changed,

“Invitation to Sociology” by Peter Berger (1963) gives us a closer look at what sociologists enjoy doing, and gives us some examples about what kind of people might be interested in sociology (curious ones). He states that the curiosity of us who are interested in sociology, can go as far as “listening to gossip, peek through keyholes, and look at other people’s mail.” But that “curiosity” is really just us being passionate for knowing why people are the way they are and how that affects society as a whole. Sometimes that curiosity we possess can leads us to have to think out of the box and do things a little out of the ordinary. Our passion for sociology also makes us different from other working people because we are living and breathing sociology both on the job and off the job. We enjoy finding out the unknown, new discoveries fascinate us and we are not shy about our interest for human beings and their actions.

Religion and Theories

Lizette Escatel-Sanchez

May 16, 2019

Engl. 1A

                                                     Religion and Theories

Over the course of time and history, religion is one thing that happens to stay the same as the years go by and as it is passed down from generation to generation. Religion is something that brings people together, a way for people to bond and express their values and beliefs. Although there are many different religions and different beliefs, religions are not always similar to each other or looked at with the same respect by society, as some may be seen as more extreme than others. Religion is supposed to bring people together, but it has also drifted many apart due to the differences between religions and their own personal ideologies.

When it comes to religion, a functionalist theory would argue that religion is an important aspect of society which affects education and politics, and that it all works together to meet our biological and social needs. As a group, many religions come together to promote social solidarity and try to engage with others and lure them in to their group. Humans need to feel like we belong in something and for many, religion is where they fulfil that sense of belonging. People are able to share ideas and beliefs with other like minded individuals who agree with them. Religion gives people support- whether that support come in times of sadness and need, or in times of happiness where we want to spread joy.  Functionalism embraces religions, but also has restrictions, rewards and punishments. Speaking about rules and restrictions- most religions have their own sets of rules that they expect their people to respect and abide by, and if not thoroughly followed, they also have punishments for those who choose to not respect them or exercise them in a way in which expected. One example of a religious rule and belief would be waiting until marriage to have sexual intercourse for most Catholics and Christians (amongst others). If that rule is broken, you can be looked down upon by your fellow church members, and might need to face a punishment for not being pure until marriage. Functionalism understands that in order to keep society functioning, religion has to be respected.

The conflict theory and Karl Marx would argue the complete opposite from the functionalism theory and say that the conflict theory-  “It is a power struggle that is most often won by the wealthy and elite and lost by the common person of common means.” Karl Marx said that religion was an opium of the people and believed that religion was created by the ruling class in order to take advantage of the exploited (the lower classes and the poor). By having religion, the ruling are able to oppress those beneath them by using their power and claiming to possess divine rights (such as kings used to do). Religion is seen as a distraction from happiness and as an illusion used so that people be distracted from their real oppression. The upper classes of society have been known to use religion to remain control over society.  In the book “Educated” by Tara Westover, we see how her Mormon religion keeps she and the rest of her family, ignorant from many things that go on in the real world and outside of their religion. Most of the children do not have birth certificates, are expected to work around the house, not allowed to go to school and pursue and education, or have anything containing milk. In their religion, this is a way for them to not be controlled by the government.

The Education System and its many problems

Lizette Escatel-Sanchez

English 1A

Spring 2019

The Education System and its Many Problems

“Education is a social institution through which society’s children are taught basic academic knowledge, learning skills, and cultural norms.”  (Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed)  But many major problems stand within that social institution, problems that threaten to harm our current education system in the United States. The education system has its many pros and cons. The social environment of one might say education undermines some of the most important decisions of one’s life long journey. Education is something that we have been taught throughout our lives, and it is to be important and something no one can ever take away from you, but in the same way what does it mean to have an education under your belt.

Growing up in a low-income neighborhood in Redwood City, Ca., in which most of our parents were poorly educated, and some barely even finished middle school, major problems within my own public school district were not noticeable to me or my classmates at the time. Throughout elementary school, I remember being aware that we had to be extra careful with school items (computers being one of those). Many times we did not have enough paper, writing utensils and other basic necessities, but we did not see this as being a problem, this was normal to us. It was not until high school that I personally realized some of the major problems that our public education system faced, but how could we fix those problems? ‘What exactly were the problems, whose fault was it, how long have such problems been around, and what are some things that us as a community can do to help?’  were just some of the questions that started to linger in my mind. 

One major disadvantage and problem that some of us faced, was the lack of education that our parents had, as well as the language barrier. I remember my parents not being able to help with certain school projects and homework, due to the fact that they had no knowledge about it and/or did not understand. A recent study showed that ”Children who are raised speaking English as a second language often face additional academic challenges at American public schools. Only 64.1% of California students have parents who are fluent English speakers, the smallest share of any state in the country.” Stebbins, Samuel, and Thomas C. Frohlich. 12 Feb. 2018.) For many, parent/guardian involvement was very limited and this starts to not only be a personal problem, but also a major problem that our education system faces. Parent involvement in their child(ren)’s education is one of the most important components to success. Not having involved parents can be detrimental, students will lack support, ambition, and will tend to not take their education as seriously as someone who has involved parents. Having involved parents/guardians leads to our students obtaining better grades, good attendance record, high scores on standardized tests, more goals for themselves and their future, and less likely to drop out of school. Having someone  there to oversee the students work and make sure they show up to school on time and meets his/her school requirements makes a huge difference, they will feel cared for and will want to do well. Without proper parent involvement, many students can find it easy to not be as involved in school themselves, therefore cutting classes or showing up late. Poor attendance records also means less money to our public schools. 

With poor attendance records comes another issue within the education system, funding. Funding for public schools in the United States varies from state to state. California, for instance, and the way they handle their school funding is very flawed compared to other states in our country. Currently, California schools receive money based on the number of students enrolled and the students' attendance. The drop of enrolled students in public schools means more funding cuts from the state. Our funding money comes from state and local taxes, which make up about 80% of school funding. Here is a quick breakdown- 58% State, 22% local property taxes, 10% other local taxes, 9% federal, 1% state lottery. Two major propositions in California have made a difference in the amount of money that our schools receive. Prop 13 puts a limit on the increase of property taxes, that limit has been highly criticized due to the fact that now there is a decline in the funding for our public schools. On the other hand, California schools do get a guaranteed minimum amount of money thanks to Prop 98, “ In 1988, voters approved Proposition 98, which requires the state to dedicate a minimum of roughly 40% of its General Fund to K–14 education each year.” (Murphy, Patrick, and Jennifer Paluch. "Financing California’s Public Schools." 2018.) But even with guaranteed minimum, our schools fall short compared to the amount that other states spend on school funding. As of now, California receives approximately $10, 786 per pupil, which ranks 8th lowest in the country. With less funding also come less staff and bigger class sizes, fewer after school programs, and less money to upkeep the school grounds.

As if the troubles with funding and how much of it goes into our public schools was not enough, Charter schools are now also draining funds from public education. Charter schools operate independently and are usually established by community leaders, parents, and teachers, but they still receive federal funding, as well as donations and grants. Every time a student chooses  to leave a public school and enroll into a Charter, public schools lose money, and therefore have to cut programs (such as music and arts), cut staff (such as custodians, nurses or librarians), and other support. Recent studies showed that Charter schools take an average of $1,000 a year per student, which start to add up to millions of dollars per school year. It was reported that Charter schools cost the Oakland Unified District a whopping $65.9 Million in the 2016-2017 school year. Money that could have instead gone to public schools for better programs,more resources, or pay increase for our teachers. Teachers are so underpaid, that some have been forced to find a second job in order to make ends meet, especially in the bay area.

Another major problem we are dealing with as a society, and also affecting our education system- poverty. We know that poor attendance hurts our education system when it comes to receiving its funding, but do we ever stop and think why some of these children have such poor attendance records? Often, their poor attendance has something more to it than just not wanting to actually go to school. Children living in poverty have higher number of absences. Sadly, instead of attending school, some of those students affected by poverty have to either be cared for by family (or friend) and even work to help their family pay bills. 21% (roughly 15 million) of children in the United States are currently living well below the federal poverty threshold. Living in a household with one single parent, and/or living in poverty has been associated with bad educational outcomes. Poverty hurts our students chances at success due to a number of different reasons. Some of those being- poor health due to bad nutrition, which leads to brain development and cognitive issues, and also the instability factor which affects our students emotionally and academically “In addition to the physical and cognitive consequences of poverty, students often lose motivation and hope for a better future. Without the support, opportunity, and encouragement to dream of something different, students don’t know how to work toward something different.” "The Cycle of Educational Failure and Poverty."  (Stand Together Foundation. 24 Jan. 2017.) With the amount of low-income students increasing, our public schools are having a difficult time meeting their needs, needs including many basic school resources, bigger class sizes/therefore lacking closer attention from teachers, and care. 

With poverty affecting millions of our students, many of them do not know where their next meal will come from, and some do not have access to healthy food. With poor nutrition comes health issues. If our students are living in hunger (or eating unhealthy food), they are not able to function properly. Hunger affects their ability to concentrate, and they are likely to suffer from “hunger headaches” (which come from skipping meals and/or water) . Luckily, most children living in food insecure households qualify for reduced lunch or free meal federal programs (though not all schools participate in the National School Lunch Program). On the other hand, the meals students receive at school have been highly criticized for being unhealthy. These meals are rich in sodium, and often processed.  With healthier meal options, our students would have less health problems, such as obesity (which currently affects 13.7 million children and adolescents). 

The No Child Left Behind Act was a law signed by the then president, George W. Bush on January 8, 2002 which was criticized almost from the beginning due to its many flaws. “NCLB was the product of a collaboration between civil rights and business groups, as well as both Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill and the Bush administration, which sought to advance American competitiveness and close the achievement gap between poor and minority students and their more advantaged peers.” Klein, Alyson. "No Child Left Behind Overview: Definitions, Requirements, Criticisms, and More." Education Week. 25 Oct. 2018. 24 June 2019) NCLB required for teachers to be highly qualified in order to teach curriculum and prepare students to take standardised testing. Students grades 3-12 are required to take tests which then gives a grade and shows where they stand in reading and math. Once testing is over, states receive a “report card” which shows whether proficiency level was met. If proficiency is not met after testing, schools can suffer the consequences which include less federal funding for public education. Some other consequences if students did not meet proficiency level- 2 consecutive years of not meeting levels, student given the option to transfer to a better public school (including Charters if any availability), 3 years of not meeting levels, free tutoring is mandated, and at 4 years of not meeting proficiency level, the state can take over the school, shut it down or decide to make it into a Charter. NCLB was a big investment with very little results and more negatives than positives. Teachers were put under extreme pressure to make sure all students met the proficiency level of reading and math. Many teachers argued that ironically enough, the No Child Left Behind Act was leaving children behind by caring more about their test numbers, than what the students are actually learning. With Barack Obama taking over office after Bush, came many changes, one of them being the replacement of NCLB. On December 10, 2015 Barack signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (which replaced NCLB). Some modifications were made into place with the ESSA, but the standardized testing was kept and under law all students from grades 3-8 have to test annually. ESSA also lets the states have more control about the goals they have for their students, and the way they go about meeting such. 

With so many obstacles in the way of us getting a good education in the United States, being able to graduate high school and go off to college is always a major accomplishment when so many things are against us. We face language barriers, poverty, not enough funding, not enough parental involvement, and so many other things. I personally believe that education is the key to success, we need to want it, we need to find a way to break through all of these obstacles, and that starts with being educated. The more educated we are, the more comprehension we will have, and the more we will be able to help our younger generation because the more knowledge we have, the better decisions we will make (like voting on propositions which will affect our school funding, or who we vote into office). I am optimistic, and hope for a better world for our youth, a world in which education is free, and a world where we support each other and celebrate our successes. 

Works Cited-

Bogenschinder, Karen, and Carol Johnson. "Family Involvement in Education." 2004.

"Introduction to education." Https://cnx.org/contents/AgQDEnLI@13.1:RDzWs2S8@9/Introduction-to-Education.

Klein, Alyson. "No Child Left Behind Overview: Definitions, Requirements, Criticisms, and More." Education Week. 25 Oct. 2018. 24 June 2019 <https://www.edweek.org/ew/section/multimedia/no-child-left-behind-overview-definition-summary.html>.

Murphy, Patrick, and Jennifer Paluch. "Financing California’s Public Schools." 2018.

"The Cycle of Educational Failure and Poverty." Stand Together Foundation. 15 May 2019. 24 Jan. 2017 <https://www.stand-together.org/cycle-educational-failure/>.

Stebbins, Samuel, and Thomas C. Frohlich. "Geographic disparity: States with the best (and worst) schools." USA Today. 12 Feb. 2018. Gannett Satellite Information Network. 25 June 2019 <https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/economy/2018/02/08/geographic-disparity-states-best-and-worst-schools/1079181001/>.

The Struggle, The Love & The Accomplishments

        There are approximately 7.5 billion people in the world and out of those billions of people who share the planet with us, it is amazing to think that no one out there is the same as you. Many things make us unique- our DNA, our looks, our beliefs,  our qualities and capabilities, etc., but when it comes to identity, there are parts that we share with others. Society helps build our identity, but to what extent? Have you ever stopped to think about the ways in which society has helped shape you and how sociological theories would explain why you are the way you are? Our interactions with others, symbols, religion, ethnicity, it all ties in to shaping us as individuals.
My parents moved to the United States from Jalisco, Mexico looking for better education and better opportunities for themselves. The lack of resources, education, ability to move up socially, and the never ending violence as a result of such, were important factors in their decision to leave their native country. Mexico did not have much to offer my parents, and they knew they had to go out there and fight for a better life for themselves and their future children. Finally settled in the United States (San Jose, to be exact), they decided they were ready to start the family they had dreamt of. Unfortunately, they suffered the tragic loss of what would have been my older sister (Jasmine)  who died while my mother was in labor. A year after their loss, my parents welcomed me and moved to Redwood City after finding better job opportunities. I grew up being an only child for 10 years, and grew up with a bit of both worlds- my parents were very strict and very over protective (probably due to the fact that they had already lost a child and did not want anything to happen to me) but they also gave me the freedom to be who I wanted to be and to express myself in whichever way I wanted to. Growing up, we lived in a small apartment complex, in a neighborhood which was not the safest. Some of my earliest  memories were of rival gangs fighting each other outside my door, setting cars on fire, and one too many stabbings. As a child i was not able to realize this, but due to my bad surroundings, my parents working almost 7 days a week, the lack of resources and the people that i grew up with, my life could have gone a completely different route.
My father, Salvador, worked extremely hard to be able to provide for my mother Maria and I, but his hard work came with a price that I had to suffer from and pay. My father's hunger for more, and his want for a better life, kept him away from us for much of my childhood, therefore-  I grew up only having my mothers love and dedication. I always appreciated my fathers willingness to work hard to provide for us, but he worked so hard that he was never able to appreciate the fruits of his labor, and in a sense he alienated himself from us. Karl Marx argues that alienation is common, people like my father work so hard and end up alienating themselves because “alienation in modern society means that an individual has no control over his life”, meaning that work takes over sometimes to the point where they lose control of many things, like their family, their individualism and their self worth. His hard work did not go unnoticed though, I was able to see and appreciate his struggle, and that has made me want to be a better person and want to be somebody successful, as a way to thank and honor him for what he did for us.
Some of my favorite childhood memories took place at school. Everyone there knew each other, and our families and teachers became like one big extended family who looked out for one another. Though my elementary school was one of the lowest ranked in the district, I was lucky enough to have some of the most kind hearted, hard working, passionate, and understanding teachers ever. Those teachers left a lifelong impact on me, and I am certain that my desire to have a career working with children was influenced by the love and support those teachers left in me. Knowing that they were limited on resources and time (amongst many other things), those teachers always went above and beyond for their students and they worked very close together with everyone's parents to make sure we succeeded in our academics and stayed away from trouble. Living in a dangerous neighborhood where crime happened on a daily basis, our teachers knew they had to step in and show us a world full of opportunities and full of hope. I vividly remember the struggle my 3rd grade teacher went through in order to take her class to UC Berkeley. For many of us this was our first time on a  field trip, and meeting so many young educated Latinos gave us hope that we too could get out of a bad neighborhood, and pursue our dreams (which seemed almost impossible to reach at the time).
It was not all rainbows and butterflies, as a community we suffered major losses, but we took our losses and turned them into inspiration to do better and want more. The main reason behind the success of so many of my elementary classmates and I, is without a doubt due to the dedication and the love from our parents and teachers. Our surroundings were not the best, we did not have the best resources, but the willingness of our community to come together in order to see us succeed really made a difference in our lives. Sociologist Emile Durkheim believed that society worked as a body, and  he “likened society to that of a living organism, in which each organ plays a necessary role in keeping the being alive.” In this instance, our community worked so well as a “body” that we were all able to help each other out and pick each other up whenever we needed it. We needed the good, but we also needed the bad. Living in our dangerous unprivileged neighborhood opened our eyes and made us realize what life could be like if we decided to not pursue an education or follow our dreams.
My late teens and young adult years were years of soul searching and years in which I felt an immense sense of growth and happiness, but it was not easy to get there. During high school I always resented how strict my parents were, I was not able to see the bigger picture and understand the why. Coming from a very traditional Mexican family, we are always told that “as long as you are living under my roof you will live under my rules”. Some of those rules- waking up early every Sunday and going to church together, volunteering and doing community service, learning how to cook and how to essentially become the “perfect housewife”. While I did not enjoy them, having those rules gave me a sense of responsibility and boundaries to abide by and follow, which at the time did not seem as important to me. At age 19 I welcomed my son, Julian. Becoming a mother completely changed my life, especially my interactions with people, and my outlook on life. One afternoon after Sunday mass, everything started to make sense to me. I realized the way my interactions with others had completely changed and the way I was looked at different by members of my family and members of society was different.
I went from being a college student, to being a mother and housewife- it was a complete 180. As a result of such, society had different opinions about me and the way they interacted with me. My family stopped treating me as a normal young woman, and started treating me with more respect and giving me more moral support, they also had more expectations now that I was a wife and mother. That newly found respect and those new roles changed the way I carried myself. Suddenly I  found myself worrying about things that had never even crossed my mind before, which according to Goffman was due to the fact that “Each situation is a new scene, and individuals perform different roles depending on who is present (Goffman 1959).”  Though being a mother has by far been my favorite role to play, I did not feel fulfilled as an individual. I had to go out there to see what other roles I could play, and learn how to interact with others in order to feel happier more accomplished. My biggest accomplishments have come after wanting to play different roles in life. I am now a student, an employee, a mother, a daughter, a happy woman and future psychologist.
I celebrate 30 years of life this summer, and I look back and realize how much I have grown for the better, and how much I have accomplished. Though resources growing up were low and opportunities were not always knocking at my door, I always pushed through and found ways to persevere. My parents, my community, every single teacher I met, every peer that took me under their wing, every disadvantage, every advantage, the good, the bad, everything around me has shaped and influenced me. Growing up the way I did has made me the mature and loving woman I am today, and those same disadvantages and struggles that I went through and overcame, will help me in the future to be appreciative of life and all the blessings around me.

The Cholo History

     

     The word cholo comes from the Nahuatl word “Xoloitzcuintlil”, which refers to a dog that is native to Latin America. When the Spanish people showed up in Mexico, they used the word “Xolo” (pronounced cholo) to describe mixed indigenous people whom they (the Spaniards) thought were less than them, and compared them to being like the “Xolo” dogs. Fast forward many many moons- even though the word Cholo has been around for a while its meaning now and the way people use it is still somewhat the same. The word cholo nowadays is typically used as a derogatory word to describe a low income, low class, Mexican-American (second generation +) gangsters, amongst a variety of other things. Cholos are known for their rebellion against the usual norms, protecting and representing their neighborhood and the Mexican culture through art, resistance against colonization, tattoos, and also for their brotherhood. Cholos are looked at as the no good of society, they are outcasts who feel a sense of responsibility to protect and serve their community and their families at whatever cost. Cholos take pride in protecting their neighborhood, since they feel as though they cannot depend on the cops to do such for them.
      Before the Cholos, we had the Pachucos in the 1930’s and 1940’s. The Pachuco culture was at its peak during the World War II, and just like the Cholos- Pachucos were Mexican-American teenagers who rebelled against the norms, prejudices and inequalities that Mexicans dealt with on a day to day basis. The Pachucos had their flamboyant way of dressing, they wore “Zoot Suits” which many saw as unpatriotic. The Pachucos signature style consisted of baggy pants (which were typically waist high), long chains, long coats, suspenders, bandanas, and a  “tando” (hat).One big problem that society had with the way Pachucos dressed was due to the amount of fabric they used to make their famous Zoot Suits. At the time, The War Preparedness board had put many restrictions on the amount of fabric that could be used for pretty much anything other than the outfits used for the war. The Pachuco’s attire caused a lot of controversy and they quickly found themselves in trouble with many people who disapproved. Some of those who disapproved- servicemen! The disapproval of the servicemen (specifically sailors) towards the Pachucos was so bad, that both groups had a big brawl in the year 1943. Servicemen stripped Pachucos down to their underwear and then proceeded to burn their items of clothing as a way to show their disapproval and their hatred. Things got so bad that the Los Angeles council made wearing a Zoot Suit something that could be punishable with a jail sentence. With what seemed to be the end of the Pachucos and the beginning of the Cholos, some things changed- style being one of those things.
One of the most important things in the Pachuco and Cholo subculture has been their distinctive sense of style. Although their style has evolved during the years, some of their clothing artifacts have remained the same throughout time. Style is very important for the Cholo subculture because it is used as a form of expression and representation of who they are and who they are claiming to be and represent, whether they’re representing  a specific hood or a gang. Cholos usual attire consists of Nike Cortez shoes, clean button-down shirts, baggy Dickies pants (usually khaki), belts, bandanas, rosaries (as necklaces to represent their catholic religion), and sunglasses. Whether they are in their town or away from it, if you see a cholo you will probably be able to recognize them due to their distinctive sense of style. You might even be able to guess which hood or gang they claim or what it is that they represent, from the items of clothing that they are wearing (or the particular color).
The cholo style is heavily associated with the gang culture, and they often use bandanas as artifacts that represent something more than just a fashion accessory. Depending on where the cholos are from, you might see them wearing a red, blue, or black bandana. Different colors represent different gangs or different hoods. You can usually find cholos wearing bandanas either on their head, folded neatly and hanging on their pants back pocket, or tied around and covering their face (to hide their identity). The bandana is one of the most significant and most important pieces of clothing for the cholos due to the easiness of being to identify their gang due its color. Cholos choose bandanas as an artifact and a way of identifying themselves with whatever specific gang they are in. If you see a cholo wearing a bandana you will be able to identify that they are in a gang- for example if you see a cholo wearing a red bandana, you will know that they belong to the norteno gang.
Two big cholo gangster rivals the Nortenos and the Surenos- though they are enemies, both gangs have similar upbringings and are essentially fighting the same social battles. The way of dressing for both of these rival gangs is somewhat similar and both gangs use bandanas as one of their main articles of clothing, but one of the main things that differentiates them is the color they choose to wear (amongst other things). The Nortenos tend to always wear the color red, whether it be red hats, red shirts, red shoes or shoelaces, etc. They also have similar tattoos of the numbers “14” or the words “Norte” (North). They wear such colors and have those tattoos in order to be able to be noticed by other members of the gang (or members of opposite gangs). The Surenos use the color blue and the number 13 as a way to be identifiable to their own members, or rivals.
When it comes to Cholos and how the media depicts them, there is a mix of good and bad. The Cholo style has been used by many famous people for Halloween costumes, and in their music videos (for example Gwen Stefani’s “Luxurious” video). People argue that non hispanics wearing the Cholo style is cultural appropriation and meant to be racist. They want to dress like cholos, but they do not know the history behind what they are wearing. It seems like being a cholo is a trend in the most recent years, look at shows such as “On My Block”, or “Orange Is The New Black”. Both shows have Cholos and they portray them as being tough, violent, and uneducated, low lives, who are good for nothing, and always in and out of the prison system, amongst other things. It is almost as though being a Cholo is the new cool thing in the media, but there is much more to it. They glorify their style and culture on television, but damn them in real life.
      Cholos like to think of themselves as one big family (“La familia”) who help and supports each other. As Mexican-Americans, Cholos know the struggles that come with being in a country that does not necessarily care for minorities. Most are children of immigrants who were born in the United States, yet they still do not feel like they entirely “fit in” here in the states, and also feel as though they do not “fit in” in their parents native country of Mexico. Cholos fight for fairness and though they have a tough exterior, they are always united and looking for ways to help their “Raza”. Both the Pachucos and the Cholos have been advocates for Chicano Pride, and can even be looked at as being activists for their people and their communities. Together they have fought and continue fighting for a better life for their children and that of our culture as a whole, though their way of doing so can be seen as intense. I had the pleasure of interviewing a Cholo (Agustin “Oso” C.)  from my old neighborhood and he told me about ways that he and his fellow Cholo members are involved in their community. They gather once a month to help clean the streets of their “Fair Oaks Block”, they are very active in their children's soccer team and even take turns making and selling food during the games (proceeds go back to their children’s low income school), they also keep a close relationship with the towns sheriffs and think of ways in which they can keep the peace between gangs and the officers. They want to make sure that their children have a much better childhood than they did, and they all agree that it starts by giving back to the community that has watched them all grow. “We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community... Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own.” (Cesar Chavez)  The Cholos and their rebelion will live on, but hopefully in a way more peaceful manner than in the past. Cholos continue to express themselves through art, music, poetry and style, which has not changed all that much in the past years. As someone who grew up around Cholos her whole life, I am looking forward to seeing how they evolve and what changes they make in the future. One thing I hope remains, is their loyalty and the pride they have for their culture and their people.