The Black Hand Analysis

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The Black Hand by Chris Blatchford is a biography about Rene “Boxer” Enriquez, an East Los Angeles native and former Mexican Mafia member. The gang also known as Le Eme, or “M” in Spanish, the Mexican Mafia is out to be one of the strongest gangs in American history. The gang was established in city of Los Angeles, as well as other smaller gangs such as the well known MS-13, and Florencia-13, which are brought up and mentioned in the book on how Boxer relates to them. Even though the Mexican Mafia was not originated in Mexico, a lot of it roots and thoughts tie back from Mexico. This biography describes in depth the life of Enriquez from being just adolescence stealing fire crackers; up through the present day; an ex Mexican mafia member. Now that he is out of the gang life, he is retelling his story as a normal citizen, trying to warn others about the risks. As well as trying to get the picture through to young kids that it’s not all about getting woman, money and cars. He is trying to help others by retelling his story so they can learn from his mistakes.

The retelling of his life mostly took place in the Los Angeles county; Boxer’s hometown but also in different jails and correction facilities around California. Events such as armed robberies, grand theft, and petty theft were crimes Enriquez was performing all of throughout city Los Angeles, as well as Orange County.. All were reasons that landed him behind bars. At the early age of 18, right when he became a man; Boxer was sent to Soledad Penitentiary in Northern California for 9 years. Reason was because of an Armed Robbery. A few years later, he was transferred to the Deuel Vocational Institution in Tracy, California and then to Folsom Prison. While there, Boxer official...

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...end he regrets it all.

From the second you start reading until the second you end, you find yourself wanting to know more and more about Boxer’s story. A bit about Blatchford, is that he is an award winning investigative reporter and author, who truly captures the reader’s attention. After I was finished with the story I still found myself wanting to know more about organized crime and particularly the criminal organization described in the book. I describe "The Black Hand" in one word, Brutal.

The book isn't just about the cold working of a criminal empire. Boxer tells his story with unexpected sensitivity and a Chicano brand of optimism. The man is highly charismatic. Yet, there is a dark side shown that is absolutely sobering. It's the part of him that is a frighteningly intelligent and ruthless. He shows us a man who can find dark humor in a jailhouse murder.

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