Filipino American History Month 2021: The History of Filipino American Activism
Seattle, WA — The Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) is pleased to share the Filipino American History Month 2021 theme:
50 Years Since the First Young Filipino People’s Far West Convention
The year 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the First Young Filipino People’s Far West Convention, a meeting that took place at Seattle University in 1971 and brought over 300 young Filipino American participants from the West Coast of the US. The convention is hailed as the beginning of the Filipino American Movement.
The first convention theme was “A Quest for Emergence” and was hosted primarily by the Filipino Youth Activities, Inc. (FYA) under the leadership of then-FYA Youth Director, Dorothy Laigo Cordova and convention chair, Anthony Ogilvie. This initial meeting would result in a series of conferences that would later become known as the Filipino (or Pilipino) People’s Far West Conventions (FWCs), which were held annually between 1971 and 1982, in places like Seattle, Los Angeles, Stockton, and Berkeley.
The Filipino Farwest Conventions were an organizing space for community and youth activists that helped bring issues like Filipino Farmworkers rights and anti-martial law to the forefront of the Filipino American Movement. The FWC also served as the impetus for annual student-led conferences now held across the country. Many scholar-activists consider the FWCs to be the impetus of Filipino American Studies.
Relatedly, 2021 also marks the 25th anniversary of PinoyTeach and the 20th anniversary of Pin@y Educational Partnerships (PEP) – both educational programs that teach Filipino American history and curriculum to Filipina/x/o American students from elementary school to graduate school. We recognize the Philippine Studies Department at City College of San Francisco – the only department of its kind in the nation – which was advocated for, established by, and sustained through the support of Filipino American students and community over 50 years ago. We also acknowledge the many youth organizers who formed hundreds of Filipino American student and youth-led organizations all over the country.
Thus, we choose this theme to honor the earlier pioneers in the Filipino American movement, as well as the subsequent groups of young people across the country who have advocated for social justice issues affecting Filipino Americans (and other historically marginalized groups) for the past 50 years.
Events
In collaboration with Little Manila Queens Bayanihan Arts, Diverse Streets Initiative, the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns and the Filipino American National Historical Society. This event will bring the community together to celebrate Filipino American History Month by uplifting the Filipino Community of Woodside, Queens and beyond. There will be free programming and performances for people of all ages and abilities. Activities include art, music and cultural performances, a community fair featuring local organizations, a collaborative community mural, self-defense classes, know your rights workshops, and other family-friendly activities.
Merienda 5: TBD!
Community Award Nominations
The nominations for 2021 are open. Please nominate our kababayan here.