Violence At Home Chapter Analysis

Social issues in poor communities affect young people by killing their childhood. Kids experience violence at home and in their communities, leading them to follow the wrong people. Some even start working to help out at home and take a role of an adult when they should just be enjoying their childhood. They start to give into drugs and alcohol to “get away” from their problems when they are truly just adding one more problem to their plate which is addiction. Kids start to think they need to dress a certain way, own certain things, or say stuff to fit in and not feel left behind because of the economic issues. These problems cause these young people to feel bad about themselves like if their not good enough or that they don't belong in a certain
In chapters 4-6 he shows how he tried to maintain his ‘rep’. For instance , “Not that I could relax … always lived on the edge of losing rep(reputation). All it takes is a one-time loss of heart." Piri said in chapter 6. From the beginning of the book, Piri was very concerned about his reputation. In chapter 5, after a fight with the kids on the block, he feels great because he now has a “bad boy” reputation. In chapter 6, Piri moves to a new place and he says "Even when the block belongs to your own people, you are still an outsider who has to prove himself a down stud with heart.". Moreover in chapter 3 he seems to rush growing up when he says “It was all part of becoming hombre (a man), of wanting to have a beard to shave, a driver's license, a draft card, a "stoneness" which enabled you to go into a bar like a man. Nobody really digs a kid.". He wanted to do things that will make him look good or "cool" in front of the other kids and friends that are around him. He does not want to be seen as just another young kid that is too innocent to know what drugs are or how it is to have sex with a