Why did the author write Barrio Boy?

In the introduction, Galarza explains that having been in the habit of telling his family anecdotes about the mountain village where he was born, he repeated one of his stories at a scholarly meeting. The story circulated among a small audience, who suggested he write a book. The two reasons he cites for pursuing this suggestion are one historical.... the other psychological. First, he acknowledges the importance of his experience historically, since many families have migrated from small Mexican villages and landed in the United States. The psychological side is the author's desire to communicate his confidence in his self-image as a Mexican immigrant.