The Education of a Gringo

From the tumultuous 1960s through the 1990s, from Europe to Mexico and back to the San Joaquin Valley, The Education of a Gringo is a tale of doubt and redemption. It tells the story of Jimmy Welch who is confused, frustrated and unsure what to do when he is encouraged to reject and discriminate against Mexican immigrants. At first he joins in rejecting and disregarding them, but he has doubts which cause him to question his and the community's behavior. Becoming a teacher in an elementary school with a student body comprised primarily of children of Mexican farmworkers begins to change his attitudes and beliefs. He draws on his recent exposure to different cultures while traveling in Europe and begins to want to learn about the children and their families, who have a very different world view from the society around them. In this quest he travels to Mexico, gains knowledge of the culture and learns Spanish. Through a politically connected friend he learns of U.S. government complicity in the repression of farmworkers and sets out to act as an advocate for them.