My Bloody Life: The Making of a Latin King

Content Warning: This section discusses violence and murder, child sexual abuse, trauma, emotional abuse, physical abuse, substance use and addiction, the death of a child, and racism. One quote includes the use of an offensive term to refer to a gay person.

“The point of this book is not merely to tell stories of gang life but to also provide some explanations for why kids join gangs and to point out that most kids are driven to gangs by adults, not by their peers or the dreaded ‘white man’ who is blamed for every problem. I hope this book can save the life of at least one kid. This book is also my attempt to make the brothers and sisters in gangs realize that the gang leaders are living the good life at their expense. Unfortunately, the people who need to hear this message the most will probably never read this book.”

Sanchez’s dual intention in writing the book—to save lives and expose the exploitation within gang hierarchies—reflects both his compassion for vulnerable youth and a critical understanding of gang dynamics. However, his admission that the most affected individuals may never encounter his message points to the tragic barriers to reaching those most in need of intervention, exposing the cyclical nature of systemic neglect. This quote highlights The Search for Belonging, which is one of the most important themes of the memoir.

“It wasn’t until we moved that I realized how big and racially diverse Chicago was. So many worlds collided with each other on the way north from the Mexican area of Eighteenth Street and Western Avenue toward the Puerto Rican area at Western and Potomac Street. We went past an African American neighborhood, then through Polish and Italian areas. I saw railroad tracks, parks, and kids enjoying themselves in the spray of water coming from a fire hydrant. The buildings changed in style, each telling their own unique architectural story. It seemed like the city embraced its dwellers the way a mother demonstrates love for her child.”

Chicago’s multicultural neighborhoods and architectural variety evoke a sense of inclusivity and belonging. Sanchez anthropomorphizes the city in the line “It seemed like the city embraced its dwellers the way a mother demonstrates love for her child,” which contrasts the warmth of the city with the neglect that he experienced at home. He also reflects, through his experience, how difficult it is for a foreigner to integrate, although he had US citizenship as a Puerto Rico resident. This portrayal reveals Sanchez’s affection for the city while hinting at the complexities of its racial and cultural intersections.