Filipino American History

Like many other minorities, Filipinos faced discrimination in the United States. Before 1943, Filipinos could not hold American citizenship. Being American was a dream for many and Filipinos, like the other Asian settlers, were attracted to America because of its ideals; yet, no matter how hard they worked, citizenship was a dream that was always out of reach. Carlos Bulosan, a Filipino immigrant, wrote about his experiences in America in his semi-autobiography, America is in the Heart where he says, "I know deep down in my heart that I am an exile in America...I feel like a criminal running away from a crime I did not commit. And this crime is that I am a Filipino in America" (vii). Click here to read his stories, which so vividly describes his experiences and accurately portrays the struggle to survive in America. Click here to learn more about Filipino American history. Photos of their life can be found here.