"There is a heat more intense than fire of the torch! And it can be rekindled at a moment's notice! Where discrimination, injustice and oppression rear their ugly heads the fire can be called upon to burn them away." Clemente Chavez is a protagonist in .
the novel Heart of Aztlan. The took place in Barelas, a "barrio" in Albuquerque, New .
Mexico in the year 1950's. Clemente Chavez used to be a farmer, and he loved to work .
the soil. He lived in a rural area with his family. He yearns for his life in barrio, he also .
fight for his and his co-workers rights in the city. The book ends with Clemente leading his .
co-workers on a peaceful demonstration through the railroad company. And he want his .
family to have a better future, he believe that there is a better life in the city. Clemente is a .
father that is willing to give his life to his family's future and the rights and conditions of .
his co-workers.
Clemente wants his family to have a better life. He had a land in a barrio. .
Unfortunately he was not able to earn enough to pay the mortgages on his land, so he was .
forced to give up and sell the land. Prior to selling the land, he is like he lost his old .
customs and traditions. "There is no injustice in dealing in land." He felt cursing and .
crying out the pain he felt because Don Jose bought it in a very low price; Clemente do .
have any choice. His family are always there to care for him. His family felt very sorry for .
Clemente. They the move from rural area to urban life takes a hard toll on the family, .
especially to Clemente. For him is like moving from one world to another. .
As Clemente wants his family for a better future, he feels powerless in .
regards in his own family, who's members takes up city-life in their own ways, and not to .
his liking. His children enjoy moving in the city; they quickly socialize with the youth often .
attending parties and dances. His youngest son, Benjamin, falls apart in drugs and get into .