One Of The Most Inspirational Speeches From Gangsters | Father Gregory Boyle | Goalcast

Summary

In this moving transcript, the speaker recounts the influence of gang members on his life, including learning modern communication. He shares an anecdote about Mario, a gang member with extensive tattoos, who despite his fears, speaks publicly about his wish for his children to avoid his past. The audience's emotional response highlights the power of empathy and connection, emphasizing the importance of standing with marginalized individuals to foster understanding and change.

Takeaways

• 📝 The speaker has learned valuable life lessons from gang members over the past 30 years.
• 💻 They've also learned modern communication methods like texting from the gang members.
• 😄 The speaker uses internet slang like 'lol', 'omg', 'btw', and 'oh n' (oh hell no).
• 🚀 The speaker invited two gang members, who had never flown before, to an event at their alma mater, Gonzaga University.
• 😱 One gang member, Mario, was extremely terrified of flying, even before boarding the plane.
• ☕ There's a humorous moment where Mario jokes about the flight attendants needing to sober up before the pilots board.
• 🖤 Mario is described as the most tattooed individual at Homeboy, with extensive tattoos even on his eyelids.
• 🍰 Despite his appearance, Mario is known as the kindest and gentlest soul at Homeboy, working in their cafe.
• 🎤 During the event, Mario is asked to give advice to his children, to which he responds with a heartfelt desire for them not to be like him.
• 👏 The audience's positive reaction to Mario's vulnerability shows a deep appreciation for his character and the impact of his words.
• 🌟 The speaker concludes by emphasizing the importance of standing with marginalized groups to promote understanding and end discrimination.

Q & A

What did the gang members teach the speaker?

The gang members taught the speaker how to text, including using abbreviations like 'lol', 'omg', 'btw', and 'oh n' which stands for 'oh hell no'.

Why does the speaker bring gang members to events?

The speaker brings gang members to events who have never flown before to experience the thrill of seeing their reactions to flying.

How does the speaker describe Mario's appearance?

Mario is described as the most tattooed individual at Homeboy, with his arms fully tattooed, neck blackened with his gang's name, and his head shaved with tattoos on his forehead, cheeks, chin, and eyelids.

What is Mario's role at Homeboy Industries?

Mario sells baked goods at the counter in their cafe.

How do people react to Mario in public?

People react to Mario with fear and apprehension, clutching their children more closely, due to his intimidating appearance.

What is the significance of the tattoos on Mario's eyelids?

The tattoos on Mario's eyelids say 'the end', implying that when he's in his coffin, there's no doubt about his past.

What was the topic of the talk at Gonzaga University?

The talk at Gonzaga University involved the speaker and two gang members sharing their stories in front of a thousand people.

How did the audience react to Mario's story during the Q&A session?

The audience was deeply moved by Mario's story, leading to a woman asking him about his advice for his children, and ultimately resulting in a standing ovation.

What advice does Mario want to give to his children?

Mario wants his children not to turn out like him, implying he wants a better life for them.

What was the audience's response to the woman's follow-up statement about Mario?

The audience was moved to tears and gave a standing ovation, recognizing Mario's kindness, gentleness, and wisdom.

What is the speaker's message about standing with marginalized groups?

The speaker encourages standing with demonized, disposable, and voiceless people to stop demonization, stop throwing people away, and to make those voices heard.