Story of Filipino American and UFW Co-Founder Larry Itliong Highlights Importance of Ethnic Studies in the Classroom
Illustration by Andre Sibyan from the book ‘Journey For Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong’.
February 12, 2020, Stockton, CA - “Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong” book tour continues on the last leg of its national movement with stops in Northern California, Washington, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Hawaii. Events center around this historic book, celebrating the work and legacy of Filipino American labor leader and United Farm Worker co-founder Larry Itliong. The national movement to introduce this history to a Pre-k-14 and beyond audience is rooted in grassroots organizing with educational communities to bring this work to school districts and major universities. “Journey for Justice'' is about Larry Itliong, a long-time labor organizer who led the Delano Grape Strike with Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. During the founding of the UFW, Itliong was the assistant director under Chavez who was the director.
Currently, Filipino Americans are the largest Asian American group in 10 of the 13 western states, one of the most rapidly growing Asian American populations in the nation, and is the oldest Asian population in the nation, with hardly any mention of their contributions to U.S. history in school textbooks. The aim of the book tour is to remember and celebrate often forgotten Larry Itliong, who led the Delano Grape Strike, co-founded the UFW with Cesar Chavez and was an important social justice leader in the farm labor movement. It also aims to teach students at each tour stop and inspire student leaders to build solidarity with other marginalized communities to make change.
Illustration by Andre Sibyan from the book ‘Journey For Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong’. (L-R: Larry Itliong, Cesar Chavez, and Philip Vera Cruz.
This all ages book also gives a glimpse of Filipino American and Mexican American history, and the solidarity between Filipino and Mexican farm workers that created the largest farm labor movement in the history of the United States. It is also a moment to celebrate the co-author and leading Filipino American historian behind the book, Dr. Dawn Bohulano Mabalon, who tragically passed before the book was published. Romasanta, who began the tour last year (February 2019), is grateful for the nationwide support the book has garnered.
“During the book tour kick-off one year ago, at historic Filipino Hall [in Delano, CA], we were so grateful to get the support of local elected officials, including state and congressional representatives, local school district and college level support, community support from the Dolores Huerta family and of course student and parent support for this history.” Romasanta adds, “After a year of this national movement, this book has shown us how important ethnic studies is to help us see that when immigrant communities see ourselves in our history, we know we are solutions and we have contributed to American history in very concrete ways. Our collective history is impactful and necessary for our students to see.”
Co-author Gayle Romasanta will be touring the book with stops at the Filipino American National Historical Society Museum in Stockton, CA; the University of Virginia, Charlottesville; Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA; William & Mary College, Williamsburg, VA; Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA; and at the 18th Biennial Filipino American National Historical Society Conference in Honolulu HI.
Pictured L-R: Illustrator Andre Sibayan, Co-author/Publisher Gayle Romasanta, and Co-author/Historian the late Dr. Dawn Bohulano Mabalon.
"The Virginia events of the Journey for Justice book tour is presented by the Asian & Pacific Islander American Studies program at William & Mary, the only degree granting program of its kind in the American Southeast and also proudly co-sponsored by William & Mary's Film and Media Studies,” says Professor Francis Tanglao Aguas, a lead organizer of the Virginia tour stops. Aguas is the founding director of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Studies Program at William & Mary.
"The story of the Filipino American farm workers led by Larry Itliong is a crucial learning point for all Americans. The visit not only emphasizes APIA-W&M's mission of giving space and voice to historical lacunas but also our vision to impact teacher training in order for Virginia's K-12 students to be exposed to Asian & Pacific Islander American Studies."
The book tour will also stop in Lancaster, PA, with scheduled events in Pennsylvania middle schools and Franklin & Marshall College. The 21-city national book tour, has already held events in Delano, California; Seattle, Washington; New York City; Washington, DC; Los Angeles; San Diego and more, has created a movement with Latino, Filipino and Asian Pacific Islander nonprofit organizations throughout the country to bring the history of Larry Itliong to their learning communities.
This book will be the first out of a planned series of four books about Filipino American historical figures for students ages 10 and up, from Bridge and Delta Publishing. A free teacher’s guide to accompany the book was created by Pin@y Educational Partnerships and is available to download at www.bridgedelta.com.
All tour events are free to attend, family-friendly, and will feature:
Speeches from educational/community leaders
Q&A and book signing with co-author Gayle Romasanta
Videos of the Delano Grape Strike
Overview of the free teacher’s guide created by Pin@y Educational Partnerships
Sponsors of the nationwide tour include Bridge and Delta Publishing; University of California, Davis Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies; Little Manila Rising; Pin@y Educational Partnerships, PapaLoDown Public Relations Agency, and the Filipino American National Historical Society.
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