Hope in Times of Darkness

A Salvadoran American Experience

Randy Jurado Ertll

Hope in Times of Darkness sends a message that we can be agents of positive change, and that minority youth in impoverished areas can succeed in life and become productive citizens of our society. The author, a Salvadoran American, lived in El Salvador as a child but grew up in South Central Los Angeles during the late 1970s and 1980s. He also lived in Rochester, Minnesota; Washington, D.C.; and Alexandria, Virginia. In each of these cities, he observed the dynamics and challenges of the Salvadoran community. As he has both lived and transcended these struggles himself, he is able to depict a realistic and compassionate picture of the Salvadoran American/Latino experience throughout this book. The author focuses on social justice issues and contends that government, community-based organizations, elected officials, and community leaders can help create hope and opportunities for our youth, and thereby help improve our society.

Watch author Randy Ertll discuss his book on GOOD DAY LA!

Table of contents

• Contents
• Foreword by Ramon C. Cortines
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction. Growing Up in South Central Los Angeles
• Chapter One. The Story of a Salvadoran American
• Chapter Two. The Dark Side
• Chapter Three. Can African Americans and Latinos Get Along?
• Chapter Four. A Better Chance Program
• Chapter Five. Occidental College Years
• Chapter Six. 1992 L.A. Riots—The Fire Still Burns in Los Angeles
• Chapter Seven. The Environmental Movement
• Photospread
• Chapter Eight. SAL-PAC—New Generation of Salvadoran Americans/Overcoming Negative Stereotypes
• Chapter Nine. Searching for My Roots
• Chapter Ten. From South L.A. to Capitol Hill
• Chapter Eleven. The SANN Year and How I Ended Up Working for the Pasadena Unified School District
• Chapter Twelve. How to Win an Election in the Southeast Los Angeles City of Maywood
• Chapter Thirteen. El Centro de Accion Social
• Chapter Fourteen. American Me, the Sopranos, and the National Geographic Channel
• Chapter Fifteen. Perseverance
• Chapter Sixteen. Lessons Learned, the Future, and Conclusion: Wake Up Everybody