This book is an ethnohistorical and ethnographic account of how several generations of Mexican immigrants became an integral part of the city of Woodland, California. These immigrants came to rural northern California as underclass agricultural workers, but, in the last 2 decades, have risen rapidly to political power through participation in the school board and various political, economic, and social institutions. A central tenet of the book is that the adjustment of immigrants depends largely upon their recognition of their own worth and potential contributions to American society. In this context, schools have special responsibilities: transmitting American cultural values that hold society together, and at the same time helping culturally diverse students pursue their own genuine ethnohistories. The success of Mexican Americans in Woodland is viewed as proof that the maintenance of the home language and culture produces strong Americans committed to a common good, the education of all. The chapters are: "The Dynamics of Cultural Transmission" (Henry T. Trueba); "Castification in Multicultural America" (Henry T. Trueba); "Woodland in Yolo County" (Yali Zou); "Chicanos in Politics: Learning to Participate and Organize" (Cirenio Rodriguez); "Political Gains of Chicano Community: Taking and Using Power" (Cirenio Rodriguez); "A School in Change: The Empowerment of Minority Teachers" (Jose Cintron); "Lessons Learned: The Healing of American Society" (Henry T. Trueba); "Cultural Therapy in Action" (Henry T. Trueba); and "Annotated References for Cultural Therapy" (Henry T. Trueba). An annotated bibliography contains 158 references on cultural therapy. This book contains references in each chapter, many data tables, photographs, and an index. (SV)