What does the 'How Can You Forget Me' exhibition reveal about Filipino migrants?

The exhibition at the National Museum of American History displays items from steamer trunks belonging to early Filipino migrants, revealing their community, activism, and efforts to achieve the American Dream.

Who are the 'Manong Generation' featured in the DC exhibit?

The Manong Generation refers to the early wave of Filipino laborers who settled in California and Hawaii, primarily young men seeking work in agricultural fields.

How did Filipino migrants maintain dignity despite facing exclusion laws?

Filipino migrants maintained dignity by carefully presenting themselves through items like three-piece suits and hats, sending stylized photographs to families, and emulating American culture.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Filipino Migrants' Lives Unearthed in DC

Filipino Migrants' Lives Unearthed in DC

1 Apr

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Summary

Steamer trunks revealed lives of Filipino migrants from the 1910s.
Exhibition showcases the Manong Generation's community and activism.
Items like suits and hats show dignity amid hardship and exclusion.

Filipino Migrants' Lives Unearthed in DC

The National Museum of American History in Washington D.C. is hosting an exhibition titled "How Can You Forget Me: Filipino American Stories." This show features the contents of 26 steamer trunks discovered in Stockton, California, offering a profound glimpse into the lives of Filipino migrants who arrived in the U.S. as early as the 1910s. These trunks, preserved by the Legionarios del Trabajo, contain more than just remnants of labor; they reveal personal items like three-piece suits and hats, demonstrating the migrants' efforts to present themselves with dignity and respectability.