All Involved

In April 1992, the LA riots broke out, resulting in complete destruction and ruin among thousands. Compared to the other 16 perspectives revealed in Ryan Gattis’s All Involved, Ernesto Vero was an outlier. With a considerably optimistic perspective in life, he had one plan in mind: earn enough money to buy a car, drive downtown, and work at his dream job as a Sushi Chef. Unlike his siblings who had ties with gangs, Ernesto stayed away. He tried his absolute best to block out everything that was destroying the people and streets he grew up on. Ernesto did his job: he woke up everyday, worked, came home, and didn’t involve himself.

However, it’s interesting to analyze that although someone like Ernesto was a law-abiding citizen, working hard to achieve his dreams, sometimes things are just inevitable: one’s destiny is inevitable. Ironically, in a quote from Ernesto before death, he remarks, “You grow up in the same neighborhood as me, one with a gun store that sells single bullets for twenty-five cents to anybody with bad thoughts and a quarter, then you might end up the same way” (6). As discussed, Ernesto had absolutely NO engagements with gangs/trouble. Yet, he grew up in poor, underdeveloped, and violent streets, surrounded by guns, drugs, and alcohol from the day he was born. Further, his sibling were both involved; his brother Lil Mosco killed Yesenia, and as revenge Ernesto was tortured to death.

A domino effect begins to be seen by readers: Lil Mosco killed Yesenia, they killed Ernesto in return, then Ramiro was murdered as revenge, and finally Trouble’s gang was attempting to rape/murder Payassa through a surprise attack. There is constant, almost essential need, for comeback and revenge between the gangs. No resolution can be made when both sides want to end up on top, making the last kill on another human from “the other side”.

Seeing each of the 17 perspectives is intriguing as they are somehow all involved and connected to one another whether through siblings or being a bystander like Gloria who tried to revive Ernesto from his death. This domino effect is clearly witnessed between all perspectives as one event/death/attack leads to the next inevitable occurrence. All those involved in gangs, are so far “deep” and loyal to their sides, that even if they want to escape and choose a different life path, they are unable due to the threats they would receive. Unfortunately, because there were so many perspectives discussed, readers only got a glimpse into their lives from the outside. Readers weren’t able to fully understand how the people were actually feeling, the thoughts going on inside their head. I’m almost positive though that if that information was revealed, there is little chance that they each wake up every morning with an intention to torture another human, put a bullet through someone’s head, and then hide from society. Yet, in life, tragically, sometimes where you grow up, who your family consists of, friends, and uncontrollable variables guide your life down nearly inescapable rabbit-holes.