Essay on Jimmy Santiago Baca's Journey of Finding His Voice

Jimmy Santiago Baca writes a story, a story that he names "Coming Into Language." Baca's parents abandoned him, and all his life, he lived in an orphanage. At the age of thirteen, Baca runs away from the orphanage. Jimmy was convicted of drug abuse and suspected murder; he did not know how to communicate well to be able to defend himself. For a reason, he was imprisoned for a term of 5years. While in prison, he could heart other prisoners read poems and stories from famous poets and writers. Jimmy learned reading and writing while in prison. The "Coming into Language" book is Baca telling us his story about his journey; the challenges he went through. In his book, Baca shows us the importance of education and how he found freedom in it. This document will discuss how Baca shows us the significance of interpretation and inscription through his book "Coming into Language."

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In the book, Baca is arrested for not being able to explain himself well. He says, "Before I was eighteen, I was arrested on suspicion of murder after refusing to explain the deep cut on my forearm." (Baca 4). Baca has a cut on his forearm, and since he is not literate, he does not know how to explain himself well, so the cops suspect him of murder. It is because of not being able to communicate; the lack of communication skills that we get from education that gets him arrested. Most people seem to be nervous when they are guilty, which makes it difficult for them to communicate well. That might be the reason he was suspected of a crime because to the police; he acted guilty.

Baca uses imagery to let us understand the kind of life he had before he knew how to read and write. He explains, "I was mopping the floor in front of the booking desk... when they went to the bathroom to pee, I grabbed one of the attender's university textbooks and tucked it in my overalls. It was the only way I had of protesting." (Baca 5). According to his description, the situation was tough that he could not go for the textbook. Despite the awkward situation where he was not allowed to do what he did, he still went for it and did it. He is letting us know that he is in desperation; he had come to understand the importance of reading. He had decided to go to whatever extent to make his reading and learning process possible.

The writer uses anthropomorphism to let explain to us the feeling their words of poetry and reading give to him. Baca says, "I felt that invisible threat from without lessen-my sense of ... plank over swamp water where famished alligators clapped... " He continues, "While I listen to the words of the poets, the alligators slumbered powerless in their lairs." (Baca 5). When he is in prison and hears other inmates read different poems and stories from famous writers, he sees hope. Baca listening to the reading relaxes him, and to him, it feels like he is in this safe where he forgets his situation.

Jimmy uses personification and flashback to describe the way he was feeling about him, not knowing how to read and write before. He says, "Until then, I had felt as if I had been born into a raging ocean where I swam relentlessly, flailing my arms in the hope of rescue, of reaching a shoreline I never sighted." He also says, "I had lived with only hope to stay afloat; that and nothing more." (Baca 6). The writer says those words just before he does his first writing with a pencil that he sharpened with his teeth. At this point, he feels like a much better person that is so privileged. Having the ability to read and write puts him at a better position in life than he was yesterday, and now he believes in himself more.

In writing, the writer uses imagery to explain how much critical book became to him. After he has done his first writing, he says, "I wrote about it all-about people I had loved or hated... for the first time, the child in me who had witnessed and endured unspeakable terrors cried out... Suddenly though language, through writing, my grief and my joy could be shared with anyone who could listen. And I could do this all alone; I could do this anywhere." (Baca 7) Through writing, Jimmy can now express his emotions, share his experiences just by the book. Through the book, he has a voice and a better place in society.

Through Jimmy's book, one understands the importance of reading and writing in society. Through reading and writing, one can communicate well and help other people know what they are saying. Through writing and reading, a person can share their emotions and experiences with others. One can share their story that will inspire another person that has lost hope in life. Language gives one the confidence that will provide him with a higher position in society. People should read and write more to improve their creativity, which will help boost their confidence and help solve some real-life issues.

Work Cited

Baca, Jimmy S. Coming into language: an essay from Working in the dark: reflections of a poet of the barrio. 1991.