American Me is a harsh look at the "reality" of prison and gang life, especially within the Chicano community. Based on a "true story", American Me traces the life of a Latino crime lord, Santana, from his youth growing up in the barrio of East Los Angeles, through his rise to power behind the walls of Folso Prison. Set against a backdrop of hopelessness and prejudice the movie brutally attempts to portray the continuing cycle …showed first 75 words of 1085 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1085 total… stabbed him to death immediately. No one could be in La Primera if they showed signs of weakening. Santana knew that there was more to life that the one he had led. To show his real power meant standing up for what he knew was right. He stood up to end the continuous cycle of killings and drug dealing.. It took dying to prove his point. It took dying to prove Santana's real power.