Examines cultural assimilation in a Mexican and Chicano community in Santa Paula, California. Argues that the assumption of Anglo-Saxon superiority ascribed inferior social positions to Mexican-origin groups and generated conflict among these groups at times, but promoted intergroup unity when social conditions became intolerable. Contains 39…

Survey found that: (1) immigrant Mexican networks are the smallest, are kin and friend based, and include almost exclusively Mexicans; (2) American born Mexican American networks are the largest, are kin based, and are somewhat ethnically mixed; and (3) Anglo American networks are relatively small, are friend based, and are almost exclusively…