Father Gregory Boyle mentions a photograph that an ex-gang member, Richard, finds of himself. The photograph shows Richard as a happy-seeming kid at the age of ten. As Boyle writes, Richard’s photograph of himself symbolizes his self-worth. Boyle believes that many gang members secretly (or not so secretly) hate themselves—they don’t think they deserve to be loved or respected. Therefore, Richard’s attachment to the photograph was based on seeing a memento of his previous happiness, however distant and small. It was a reminder that he used to respect himself. Recognizing that this photo means a lot to Richard, Boyle takes Richard to get the photograph enlarged. The act of enlarging Richard’s photograph is symbolically an act of enhancing Richard’s love and respect for himself—it’s a manifestation of what Boyle tries to do with Homeboy Industries.
The Photograph Symbol Timeline in Tattoos on the Heart
