Filipino American History Month (October 1 to 30) commemorates the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the United States, which occurred on October 18, 1587, when “Luzones Indios” landed in what we now know as Morro Bay, California. Congress recognized October as Filipino American History Month in 2009.
For our "Community Voices" series this month, Carol Kawamura, a parent and art docent volunteer at Love Elementary School, writes about a lesson she taught that incorporated the history of Filipino American farm workers in the California. We thank Ms. Kawamura for her volunteer work and her submission!
As an art docent, I enjoy the challenge of creating art projects that highlight intersections, interconnectedness, and inclusivity. When I learned that October is also California Farm and Farmworkers Month, I knew I found the starting point for an art project to bring to Ms. Maya’s class.
The art project was to create a poster celebrating California farms and farmworkers. Students would create their own shapes using vibrant, colored paper to collage, and in addition to watercolor, students could choose to include design elements by our artist inspiration, Favianna Rodriguez, a local artist whose work, Ancestral Futurism, can be seen at the Presidio Tunnel Tops Park in San Francisco.
In the classroom, we began by recognizing California’s hardworking farmers and farmworkers and their contributions to our health and well-being. We talked about California being the largest agricultural producer in the United States. When you visit the market, take a look at the sticker on your fruit and see where it is from. We learned that another word for farming is agriculture which is the science, art, and business of cultivating soil, raising animals, and producing crops. We looked at an aerial view of California farms in which one student said “It looks like green Legos”, which it does!
We also talked about farm workers and social activism. In the 1960’s, farm workers in California worked in poor conditions and received low wages. According to the Asian American Education Project, they also did not have protections if they were injured on the job or became ill. Filipino farm workers participated in social activism in order to demand greater justice. Filipino workers led by Larry Itliong partnered with Mexican-American workers led by Cesar Chavez to overcome unfair treatment. Their work together formed the United Farm Workers Movement that led to the improved working condition of all farm workers.
When I asked the class if people can do good work by working together, I saw faces looking back at me nodding up and down. We then started passing out cups of water, paper and began sharing watercolor palettes.
Yes, we can. Si, se puede. Oo kaya natin.
Filipino American labor leader and farmworker Philip Veracruz said “In the farm workers’ union, all races meet and join together to achieve an ideal---mutual understanding, sincere cooperation and true brotherhood. The farm workers’ movement in Delano is the closest approximation of that ideal. My hope is that our unity and brotherhood will be permanent.”
The idea that when we work together we can accomplish great things for the greater good is the spotlight I wish to focus on for Filipino American History Month. That and every student art poster created that day in class is a beautiful and thoughtful, creative expression of the young members of our community.