Author: Kesiah Mae Zabala
Edited by: Maina Shaevitz
The history of the Filipinx community and also the Black community within the U.S. are intertwined, as we share the struggles for freedom, equality, and dignity. The connections between Black Americans and Filipinx go way back before the Civil Rights movement. Many of their connections have been unseen, unheard, or have not been told. Filipinx and Black solidarity was witnessed in 1899, during the Philippine-American war. Filipinx were fighting against United States colonists for their independence. Many Black leaders and Black newspaper articles went against the United States colonists and supported the intervention of Philippine independence. They thought it was wrong for the United States to oppress non-POCs in the advancement of what was seen to be the beginnings of a colonial empire. Amongst the many Black leaders who supported Filipinx were Ida B. Wells and Bishop Henry M. Turner who said it was “an unholy war of conquest” for the undertaking of the Philippines. The often forgotten solidarity between the Philippines and the US progressed from 1899-1913, as many Black soldiers progressively felt they were being utilized in a shameful racial war. They showed concern for the Filipinx who were battling to keep their independence.
As the US took control of the Philippines, Black Americans known as the Buffalo soldiers (Used by the U.S, the very same empire that didn’t treat them correctly and equally), got frustrated in the wake of hearing the utilization of the n-word by the White fighters in alluding to the Filipinx. Most of the Buffalo soldiers left their ground forces, even at risk, joined Filipinx to help the Philippines to become free from American imperialism as they were affiliated with their struggles of being seen as human beings. As noted by famous Filipinx scholar and historian Yen Le Espirtu wrote, “These common contexts of struggle were not lost in African American soldiers in the Philippines. Connecting their fight against domestic racism to the Filipino struggle against U.S. imperialism, some African American soldiers – such as Corporal David Fagen – switched allegiance and joined the native armed struggle for independence.” Over 1,000 soldiers stayed in the Philippines after the war was done.
Milton Meyer and Company, which owned the hotel, sent out eviction notices to Filipinx and other Asian tenants of the I-Hotel in the autumn of 1968. A quote stated by Walter Shorenstein, chairman of Milton Meyer, said “I was getting rid of a slum.” He wanted to destroy the structure and supplant it with additional business advancement: an underground parking structure. The International Hotel was once home in San Francisco’s Manilatown. Protestors in the protests were hundreds of members of the Black community including the Black Panthers. “They’ve had our backs for so long,” Gianni Magpantay. Another Filipinx American, Eli Frances Abad, assembled the event. He mentioned, “They were there when they were being evicted and they formed a barricade around the hotel to protect the Filipinos, so it’s our duty and responsibility to protect, stand and fight with them.”
Since solidarity between Black and Filipinx Americans has an important history, we need to start sharing support amongst one another as of today. Continue teaching generations to lift up the Black community and themselves, to appreciate each other, and to go against those that look to persecute the weak. Unite with our Black sisters and brothers for the injustices that have been occurring to them for hundreds and hundreds of years. As they have been doing for us, too.
Sources:
David, E. J. R. “Black History and the Filipin@ Community.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 10 Feb. 2016, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/unseen-and-unheard/201602/black-history-and-the-filipin-community.
Diokno, Ed. “Two Historic Filipino American Hotels Connected by BLM Marchers.” AsAmNews, 13 June 2020, asamnews.com/2020/06/13/filipino-americans-march-in-support-of-black-lives-matter-while-giving-a-nod-to-their-history/.
Medenilla, Klarize, et al. “Fil-Ams Sound off on Tough Conversations, Being Black Allies and Solidarity through Art -.” Asian Journal News, 2 July 2020, www.asianjournal.com/usa/dateline-usa/fil-ams-sound-off-on-tough-conversations-being-black-allies-and-solidarity-through-art/.
Nomoto, Sandra. “Black and Filipinx Solidarity: Lessons from the Buffalo Soldiers in the Philippines.” Cold Tea Collective, 14 July 2020, coldteacollective.com/black-and-filipinx-solidarity-lessons-from-the-buffalo-soldiers-in-the-philippines/.
Roy, Bobby Dalton G. “Why Filipino Americans Should Be In Solidarity With Black Lives Matter: Lessons From American History.” FANHS, 9 June 1970, fanhs-national.org/filam/1741-2/.
Sobredo, James. FoundSF, www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=The_Battle_for_the_International_Hotel.
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