Chicanos in a Changing Society: From Mexican Pueblos to American Barrios in Santa Barbara and Southern California, 1848-1930, Second Edition [Paperback]

Albert Camarillo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1996 | ISBN-10: 0674113977 | ISBN-13: 978-0674113978

Originally published in 1979, "Chicanos in a Changing Society" was among the first studies to focus on the history of Mexican Americans, specifically the development of Mexican-American society from the Mexican War to the Great Depression. Camarillo's book underscored the diversity of the Chicano experience and its relationship to the wider society. Nearly two decades later, Chicano history has burgeoned into a dynamic field of American history with a diverse literature.

Editorial Reviews

Review

When first published, Chicanos in a Changing Society was 'among a handful of historical monographs' which focused on Mexican America. [Camarillo's] analysis generated interest and provided challenges which led to further investigation. Much more has since been written about what was then once lost and ignored Chicano history. Re-publication of Camarillo's groundbreaking study is a recognition of its lasting importance. (Race Relations Abstracts )

Review

Camarillo is without a doubt the top Chicano historian in the United States...Chicanos in a Changing Society is the best treatment of race and ethnic relations in the historical development of the United States Southwest. It tells a rich and complex story of how California's mexicano population was deprived of its land, politically disempowered, and socially segregated into ethnic enclaves or barrios. Camarillo got the story right to the very last detail. (Ramón Gutiérrez, University of California, San Diego )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Harvard University Press (February 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674113977
• ISBN-13: 978-0674113978
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,028,047 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bridges Historical Gap, March 6, 2000

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This review is from: Chicanos in a Changing Society: From Mexican Pueblos to American Barrios in Santa Barbara and Southern California, 1848-1930, Second Edition (Paperback)

In this book, the author sets out to provide a basis for the better understanding of a culture of people that have greatly shaped Southern California. Camarillo provides a history of the Mexican experience in Santa Barbara and other southern California cities. He begins with the US annexation of California in 1848 and ends in 1930 with the deportation or "repatriation" of Mexican immigrants. Camarillo explores many aspects of the Californio and the immigrant settler and includes information on political, racial and economical issues. This book truly provides excellent information and helps fill the gap in the one sided American history that we were taught in school. This book is great for anyone who wants to learn about the early history of Mexicans in America and for Chicanos who are building a self-identity. I am now encouraged to read other works of this kind to further my knowledge of this subject.