Book excerpt: White Gold Laborers is a social and cultural history of the men, women, and children who, as "sugar beet tenders" were offered opportunity for "permanent residency" in northern Colorado, in company-sponsored colonies. Thousands living today in different parts of our country can vividly and intimately relate to the history presented here. While the events described occurred in northeastern Colorado, the individual and collective memories are reminiscent of the Hispanic experiences in America from the 1920's through the 1950's. "White Gold Laborers demonstrates that it is not the color of one’s skin, but rather one’s values that determine the course of a life... This book is especially important now as communities across the United States continue struggling with the integration of different cultures, languages, and peoples. What this book illustrates is that it is possible to live with dignity despite hardship and to maintain heritage while also contributing to the larger community." - Allen M. Huang, Ed. D. Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs University of Northern Colorado