Despite efforts to improve perceptions about Mexican Americans and other Spanish-speaking people in the United States, Chicanos and other Latinos are not yet seen as typical American citizens. Latinos continue to receive poor educations, and the media continue to represent them in ways unaffected by the emergence of Chicano literature. This book examines what Chicanos have written about education and the media, the two main agents of socialization that shape the consciousness of Latinos and the larger American society. Chapter 1 outlines issues related to educational deficiencies in Latino education and the neglect of Hispanic authors in academic and literary worlds. Chapter 2 compares Chicano and Irish literature to explain some problems encountered by ethnic oppositional authors. Chapters 3-4 present an overview of the Hispanic presence in American culture and the disregard for and negative images of Hispanics in the media. Chapter 5 discusses the realities of schooling, love, and life for Mexican American youth and the portrayal of these themes in Chicano literature. Chapter 6 argues for enhancing the visibility of Chicano literature. Chapters 7-10 each focus on a Chicano literary work: (1) "George Washington Gomez" (Americo Paredes), a semi-historical novel about Mexican American education in south Texas in the 1920s-30s; (2) "The Original Sin: A Self-Portrait" (Anthony Quinn), autobiography of the Chicano film star; (3) "The House on Mango Street" (Sandra Cisneros); and (4) "Massacres of the Dreamers: Essays on Xicanisma" (Ana Castillo). Chapters 11-12 reflect on connections between Chicano writing and Chicano life. (Contains over 200 references, notes, and an index.) (SV)