Summary The article depicts how Mexican Americans are the most dominant in terms of percentage total population of the various Hispanic American groups. Their rapid rate of growth is mainly as a result of high migration rates and partly due to high rates of birth. The rates of growth of all Hispanics groups exceed the national average, a trend that is anticipated to spill over into the current century. An assessment of the cultural patterns of the Mexican Americans relative to that of the Anglo Americans has also been examined in this article. Further, the article reveals how fluctuation in immigrations rates of the Mexican Americans relies on labor demand, the prevailing conditions in Mexico and a variation in the Federal Immigration policy. The issue of immigration of the Mexican Americans, their subsequent colonization and the eventual emergence of intergroup competition has also been explored. The continued colonization of the Mexican Americans in the form of low-wage jobs for the better part of the 20 th century was met with resistance and protest by the Mexican Americans as they endeavored to enhance their collective position. This culminated in the formation of such ideological movements as Chicanismo that sought to fight for fairness, justice, and equal rights of the Mexican Americans. New leaders and groups emerged thanks to the Chicano movements (for example, Reis Lopez Tijerion and Cesar Chavez, among others). However, external and internal forces limited the desire by Chicanos to achieve their objectives. The article has also address the immigrations of the Puerto Ricans and the eventual change in language and culture of the group through transitions. The push and pull factors of immigration that affected the Cuban Americans, the ethnic enclaves that the group was faced with, and how they managed to adapt to the American culture is also addressed. Discrimination and prejudice of the Americans against the Latinos, and the pluralism and assimilation of the group into the American culture, has also been addressed. What it means to be a Latino in America The prejudice held by the Americans against the Latinos dates as far back as the 19 th century. During this period, there were conflicts that helped to shape up the ascribed status of the Latinos as a minority group. During the conquering and the subsequent subordination of the Latinos, they were often characterized as lazy, inferior, low in intelligence, irresponsible, and dangerously criminal. The racism and prejudice, augmented by echoes of racist beliefs and ideas carried by the Anglos as they migrates Southwards, aided in the validation and justification of the exploited and colonized status of Latinos. To be a Latino American means having to endure illegal deportations. It means being ready to have ones legal and civil rights abused. Latino Americans also have little choice but to accept low-paid jobs as laborers in the unskilled sector. It means having to contend with temporary or seasonal work and no job guarantee and once work ends, chances are very high that one could be forced to return back home. The Latinos Americans are periodically the victims of powerful economic and political interests and this normally dictates the flow of the Latino population into the United States. Being a Latino in the United States therefore im