Intended for use with 5th grade students, this multicolor, hardbound textbook aims to give the students an understanding of the real situations faced by Mexican American people. Chapters are titled: (1) Who Are the Mexican Americans?; (2) Problems in Understanding Cultures; (3) How Does the Past Affect the Present?; (4) What Are the Barriers to Progress?; (5) How Do Living Conditions Change?; (6) Where Is the Mexican American in Today's Society?; and (7) Do the Problems Have Solutions?. Each chapter includes case studies, questions over the case studies, and questions over the general reading. Topics covered are: culture conflicts, culture changes, overcoming stereotypes, forcing culture changes, misunderstanding cultural differences, speaking a different language, judging from first impressions, affect of written history on feelings, slanted history as a barrier, the American Southwest, groups resisting Americanization (Mexican Americans, French Canadians, and American Indians), negative self-image, the barrio, the problem of urbanization, income and employment, political representation, education, and school reactions. (NQ)