Rodriguez experienced "community of memory and hope" when he started to work in construction, which helped him discover a new identity. Rodriguez would remember the images of "[the shirtless construction workers, the roofers, the sweating men tarring the street in front of the house]" (Rodriguez 456) in his mind. Rodriguez had images of the shitless men in his head, and grew a desire to be like them. "What was denied became strongly desired."(Rodriguez 456). He wanted to expose his body to the sun freely. Rodriguez observes or imagines their "freedom to violate the taboo of the sun" (Rodriguez 456). Rodriguez's mother did not allow him to be expose to the sun, since she felt that dark skin was a symbol of unsuccess. She wanted to protect him from getting darker because she didn't want her son to become poor or unsuccessful. In contrast, individuals with different values that have not experience this particular racial situation would not have imagine the shirtless workers like Rodriguez did. The individual will imagine other values he or she might not have, such as the workers muscular bodies instead of their freedom of exposure. This shows that depending on their values people will come up with different imagination toward themselves. As a result of joining the construction community, he had the opportunity to "[grasp the desired sensation]"(Rogriguez460) . The author had totally changed his old identity of his skin being ugly. "The curse of physical shame was broken by the sun: I was no longer ashamed of my body" (Rodriguez 462). The author now feels that being "[black is beautiful]" (Rodriguez463). .
The "Community of memory and hope" is also demonstrated in Bellah's "Community, Commitment, and Individuality". Although both essays discuss a "community of memory and hope", this term is expressed differently in each. In Rodriguez essay his "community of memory and hope is not found through his family.
