Unlocking Little-Known Chapters of Filipino American History

Prepare to be mind-blown as we take you on an exciting journey in the untapped chapters and everything you probably didn’t know about Filipino American history.

We’re here to spill the tea and give you the inside scoop on the vibrant tapestry that has formed the fabric of America. From unsung cultural revolutions to forgotten heroes, join us and buckle up for a ride of inspiring stories, surprises, and mind-blowing facts.

7 Surprising Facts in Filipino American History You May Not Know

Photo Credit: theaggie.org

You might have learned the basics and the widely-acknowledged version of the Fil-Am history. So, here are some surprising details on the vault of histories you may didn’t know about.

1. For the first time ever in 1965, Filipinos joined national boycotts that resulted in improving the lives of more than 10,000 farm workers.

2. Filipinos were a significant part of the longest-running campus strike in American history and formed ethnic studies at the San Francisco State University.

3. In the Immigration Acts of 1917 and 1924 limiting the number of Asian immigrants in the US, Filipinos were the only exemption to the rule. The outcome? 100,000 Filipinos were recruited and shipped to the US to be farm workers. Most of them were just teenagers. These teenagers became renowned as the “Manongs.”

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4. In the 1950s, more than a thousand “manongs” called a 5-block radius of San Francisco , known as the Manilatown, their home. They lived in residential hotels like the International Hotel or I-Hotel.

The Unsung Heroes

Manilatown Human Barricade/Photo Credit: manilatown.org

5. By 1968, the demolition of Manilatown began as developers planned to build skyscrapers, which you might know now as the Financial District.

After two years, the last building remaining was the I-Hotel which hosted almost 200 Filipino men, but it also came to an end in 1977. The day the police came, Filipino residents, together with the help of other Asians, the Black Panther movement, and members of the church congregation, formed a human barricade to prevent the police’s entry into the International Hotel.

6. Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz led the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee in a rally against the Delano grape growers. They demanded equal salaries to the federal minimum wage. In addition, they knew that the corporations heavily relied on Mexican and Filipino workers.

They convinced Cesar Chavez to join the strike and create the United Farm Workers Movement, and the 5-year strike succeeded. It opened the doors for every farmworker in California to negotiate their wages, hours, and safety rules. In 2019, Larry Itliong Day was announced in honor of the leader and hero.

7. In 1946, Carlos Bulosan became the first literary voice of Filipinos in the US. His most famous novel, “America Is in the Heart,” was published depicting the terrible working and living conditions of Filipino immigrants around that period.

Although it seems like Filipino American history is filled with triumphs and struggles, it’s also a celebration of the brave Filipinos who fought for their rights.

Nowadays, the fruits of their struggles are evident in better working conditions and workers’ rights. Also, from bustling Filipino festivals to delightful culinary delights, Filipino Americans are making significant contributions to American society. They further enrich the nation’s cultural fabric.

Bottomline

There you have it, folks, a look into the world of Filipino American history. The brave immigrant workers who first set foot on American soil to the determined heroes who fought for justice, this vibrant history deserves appreciation.

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