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Acknowledgments My esteemed advisor and friend, Vicki Ruiz, once explained to me that in Chicana /Chicano History, ‘‘the people drive the book.’’ This book is no exception. I have learned the majority of what I know from the many people who dared to share their lives with me on tape, and it is those people whom I wish to thank first. Although too many to name here (see the bibliography for a complete list), I am most thankful to the many Paduanos, dance hall performers and patrons, packinghouse workers, citrus pickers, and civil rights organizers living throughout Southern California who all graciously gave their time and stories to me. Specifically, I wish to thank Candelario Mendoza, whose life has served as an inspiration to me and numerous other Chicanos and Mexican Americans who call the Pomona Valley their home. Gracias a todos. I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the many educators and advisors who guided me through my education and research. I am grateful to the staff, faculty, and graduate students of the Psychology Clinic at the University of California at Berkeley, 1987–1991, where I was employed as a librarian, for giving me the confidence to imagine myself being a professor of anything. My professors at the Claremont Graduate School (which now goes by the name Claremont Graduate University) provided form and substance to this dream. As my opening sentence indicates, Vicki Ruiz served as a guiding light during the dark days of graduate school, and it is to her that I owe my deepest thanks. Vicki’s dedication and sensitivity to students’ needs is unparalleled in this profession, and I am grateful to have been one of the growing numbers of young scholars who has worked with her. Virtually all good things that have happened to me are attributable to Vicki’s support, guidance, and friendship—thanks Vicki. The peripatetic, organic intellectual Mike Davis shared research, advice, and friendship during his years at the Claremont Colleges and has significantly in- fluenced this book. Hal Barron served as my link to the world of agricultural history, providing insightful comments and helpful instruction throughout my graduate education. As well, Professors Janet Farrell Brodie, Robert Dawidoff, and Lourdes Arguelles all helped expand my knowledge of Southern California , Latina/Latino, and labor history during my days at Claremont. Although I could not resist the urge to move back West, I do appreciate xiv • ACKNOWLEDGMENTS and value the support I received during the first five years of my career at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. I received helpful comments and criticism on two chapters from members of the History Workshop (aka, the Social History Group), especially: Jim Barrett, Kathy Oberdeck, Dan Littlefield, Cynthia Radding, Poshek Fu, Liz Pleck, Fred Hoxie, Fred Jaher, David Prochaska , Blair Kling, and Clare Crowston. Kathy Oberdeck also provided key comments on Chapter 6 in a much earlier and undeveloped form, and Fred Hoxie, Fred Jaher, and Dan Littlefield read the entire manuscript and gave me critical advice regarding revisions and publication matters. I also want to thank all my colleagues in the Latina/Latino Studies Program at the University of Illinois, especially Angharad Valdivia who provided helpful comments on Chapter 4 and copious amounts of support, friendship, and ‘‘sisterly’’ advice throughout my days in Illinois. Alejandro Lugo and Cameron McCarthy also provided brilliant insights into my treatment of the colonia in Chapter 2, and Alejandro inspired my analysis of the bracero program in Chapter 5. Finally, my attempt to shape my ideas into a professional and accessible book would not have been possible without the hard work of my research assistants at the University of Illinois: Eric Burin, Guisela Latorre, and Lilia Fernandez. Each one is a brilliant scholar in his/her own right, and I expect great things out of them in the near future. My new home at the University of Oregon has been an extremely beautiful and productive space in which to work, made more so by my wonderful colleagues in Ethnic Studies and History. Peggy Pascoe, who had given me guidance from afar during the early stages of my career, has now become my pillar of support in Eugene. I thank the entire faculty in Ethnic Studies, past and present, who read my book manuscript and offered me many favorable and constructive comments. Also, Jeff Ostler, Jim Mohr, and Jeff Hanes of the History Department were exceptionally helpful in advising me on preparation of the...

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