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Carlos Bulosan America Is in The Heart

Carlos Bulosan wrote America is in the Heart in 1946 based on his experiences as a Filipino migrant worker in the United States. The semi-autobiographical book follows Bulosan's journey from poverty in the Philippines to struggling with racism and exploitation as an immigrant worker in Seattle. It documents the hardships faced by the first generation of Filipino immigrants and their involvement in organizing for labor rights. The book was intended to raise awareness of the social and economic challenges Filipino immigrants faced under the American occupation and create a voice for anti-colonial and pro-labor causes.

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TIMOTHY PATRICK ALBERT
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682 views14 pages

Carlos Bulosan America Is in The Heart

Carlos Bulosan wrote America is in the Heart in 1946 based on his experiences as a Filipino migrant worker in the United States. The semi-autobiographical book follows Bulosan's journey from poverty in the Philippines to struggling with racism and exploitation as an immigrant worker in Seattle. It documents the hardships faced by the first generation of Filipino immigrants and their involvement in organizing for labor rights. The book was intended to raise awareness of the social and economic challenges Filipino immigrants faced under the American occupation and create a voice for anti-colonial and pro-labor causes.

Uploaded by

TIMOTHY PATRICK ALBERT
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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HISTORY 166

America Is
In The
Heart
Carlos Bulosan,1946
WHAT WE'LL
DISCUSS

Introduction Analysis
Author Arguments
Book Assessment
Publication's context Conclusions
intent of book fit
Approach Synthesis
Methodology personal take
Framework parallels
Argument use of book
CARLOS SAMPAYAN BULOSAN
AUTHOR 1911– September 11, 1956 

was a Filipino American author, poet,


and activist

grew up poor in a rural area of the


Philippines

July 22, 1930 at age 17, left for America


(Seattle)

dealt with racism, was an activist in


America for labor movement

first-generation of Filipino migrant


workers
AMERICA IS IN THE HEART
BOOK 1946

"a personal history", "fictionalized


biography"

semi-autobiographical, reflecting his


own experiences

First person POV : name of "Allos"

writing style: explicit, detailed, a sense


of urgency and hope
youth migrating to struggles of labor
Seattle  immigrant's movement +
BOOK'S TIMELINE life final words of
hope
AMERICA IS IN THE HEART
BOOK Peasant Youth

working since 5
farm: father
pawning land (reflection of how
Filipino's made money with
Americans)
4th son
efforts to survive daily
Filipino Family focusing on the
success of ONE son
all for Macario
American dream : brighter future
there, equality
AMERICA IS IN THE HEART
BOOK

Immigration to the US - Struggles

1930
Struggles with racism & prejudice
migrant laborer
instant difficulty to find jobs and
equal pay
helplessness in his new "home"
brutality
AMERICA IS IN THE HEART
BOOK the labor movement (with his peers)
to organize workers
a voice
time passes : Filipino worker rights
movement and he and his friends

THREE PUSHES
UNSUCCESSFUL: form a committee
to help Filipinos obtain citizenship

WWII BAN from enlisting

Third time's the charm


proclamation by the president of the
United States (Herbert Hoover)
allows Filipinos to serve in the
military.
CONTEXT AND INTENT

push” factors that drove his


generation to the United States

the great depression
social and economic
conditions created by the
American occupation

create awareness about what


Filipino immigrants went
CARLOS through in America
BULOSAN
anti-colonial, pro-labor,
humanitarian voice
AMERICA IS IN THE HEART
METHODOLOGY HOPE DESPITE HARDSHIPS,
FRAMEWORK BITTERSWEET
ARGUMENT

“I came to know afterward that in many ways it is a crime


to be a Filipino in California. I came to know that the
public streets were not free to my people: we were
stopped each time these vigilant patrolmen saw us driving
a car. We were suspect each time we were seen with a
white woman. And perhaps it was this narrowing of our
life into an island, into a filthy segment of American
society, that had driven Filipinos like Doro inward, hating
everyone and despising all positive urgencies toward
freedom.” (p.123)
MAIN QUESTIONS

significance of his What were the Was he


writing? socio-economic completely
factors? against America
reading was his or just the system?
escape the great He hated the
to understand depression system but still
the country believed in his
first wave of
spark new country and
immigrants
the future
TIMELY
the issues, maybe not as explicit,
are still fought for today.

The white man still feels


threatened by immigrants taking
over jobs

An OFW's diary
CONCLUSION

the book was not just his story, but a testimony of the
Filipino-American people. A story of using your voice for
a people you identify with. To bring Equality not as a
future hope but a trigger for the new world.
AMERICA IS IN THE HEART

The old world is dying, but a new world is being born. It


generates inspiration from the chaos that beats upon us all.
The false grandeur and security, the unfulfilled promises
and illusory power, the number of the dead and those
about to die, will charge the forces of our courage and
determination. The old world will die so that the new world
will be born with less sacrifice and agony on the living.

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