PART I) Poet, journalist, and critic LUIS RODRIGUEZ. He's new book, "Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A." (Curbstone press) is about his participation in gang life in the 1960s in East L.A. RODRIGUEZ was in a gang by the time he was 12. And by the time he was 18, 25 of his friends had been killed. After time in the county jail, RODRIGUEZ turned his back on gang activity. He became involved in the Chicano movement, and was encouraged to write, because he'd shown a talent in it. RODRIGUEZ wrote "Always Running," in an attempt to save his own son from gang life. His son RAMIRO is 16 and is in a gang in Chicago. He'll join his father during the second half of the show.
Copyright 1993 Fresh Air