Transcending Discriminatory Laws in the Early Twentieth Century

This thirteenth day of Filipino American History Month brings information on the life of Filipino Americans during the early part of the twentieth century.

A common denominator for Filipino Americans during this time was the racist and unfair laws and policies against Filipino Americans. For example, the 1879 Naturalization Act originally excluded only Chinese from becoming citizens of the United States of America. In 1910, the United States Supreme Court widened the act to include other Asian immigrants, including Filipino Americans.

During the roaring twenties, the economy was prosperous. In 1924, the Immigration Act recognized colonized Filipinos as U.S. nationals. This meant that they were exempt from immigration quota limits, creating a situation where the Philippines was a seemingly unlimited source of labor to support the economy.

However, the Stock Market Crash of 1929 triggered the Great Depression, and there suddenly was no need for laborers, as more and more farmers escaped the Midwest to come to California. People started to blame immigrants for the economic woes of the country, a common practice during recessions and depressions.

The first race riot against Filipino Americans occurred in Exeter, CA in 1929. During the 1930s, riots also broke out in Watsonville, CA and Stockton, CA. Many people also blamed the social difficulties of the country as well. Filipinos or “Malays” were banned from marrying White women in many states through anti-miscegenation laws.

Throughout the period of Philippine colonization by the United States of America, Filipinos and Filipino Americans also were lobbying for the independence of the Philippines. Coupled with the difficult economy, Congress passed the Tydings-McDuffie Act in 1934, which declared the Philippines a commonwealth, guaranteed independence in ten years, made all Philippine-born Filipinos “aliens,” and restricted Filipino immigration to 50 a year. A year later, the Filipino Repatriation Act was signed, in an effort to send Filipinos to the Philippines without the chance to return.

Despite all of these unfair laws against Filipinos and Filipino Americans, they found ways to prosper. They organized, formed community organizations, and supported one another. They built coalitions with people of other ethnicities and similar circumstances. They found ways to overcome the roadblocks and barriers put in their way.