Perhaps one of the most difficult things for immigrants to America from other nations to do is to assimilate. This is especially true for Hispanics. Pocho describes the problems of immigrants from Mexico and their children. While we think of America as a sort of melting pot, the reality is that other cultures and traditions often clash with the so-called ôAmerican wayö and life style. And yet, one of the reasons assimilation is difficult for the Rubios is that their background is that of Mexican peasants, quick to anger, even kill, and always distrustful of gringos.
Perhaps more than other immigrants, Hispanics, especially Mexicans continue to dream of returning to their native land one day. ôNext year we will have enough money and we will return to our countryà.it became a staccato NEXT YEAR! NEXT YEAR!ö (31). What Pocho demonstrates is that push-pull existence: The older generation seeking an eventual return, the younger generation wishing in part to be assimilated, and at the same time to show pride in their heritage. The reasons for coming to the U.S. were both economic and political, from the time of Pancho Villa to the present. The reasons for returning was that feeling of not really fitting in here.
Pocho is basically the story of Juan Rubio, his wife, eight daughters and one son, Richard. Richard, born in America, learns from an early age that as a Mexican he is somehow unwelcome and considered inferior to others in and around Brawley, California. Richard had problems with his school mates and neighboring kids his age. ôHe had askedàone day why he was always picking on him, and he told him because he was Mexicanàö (41). Interestingly, this occurred not in the present day, but the early Nineteen Thirties, a time of Depression and increasing poverty- a time when the new immigrants were not only scorned, but often sent back to their native lands, accused of taking jobs away from ôAmericansö.
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