00:48.9
So in this video, let's dive into the forgotten yet intriguing intersections between Black and Filipino histories.
00:54.7
And uncover the ties that bind our people.
00:57.1
In today's journey, we explore the intertwined histories of Filipinos and African-Americans,
01:03.2
woven together under the shadows of imperialism.
01:06.6
We're delving into a complex paradox, the American education system in the Philippines,
01:11.9
a guise of benevolence masking a deeper agenda.
01:15.6
This history is rich in its complexity, highlighting not just the oppression,
01:20.8
but also the resilience and the enduring spirit of our communities.
01:24.5
So let's explore how the miseducation,
01:27.1
of a nation resonated across continents, impacting the life of Carter G. Woodson,
01:33.6
whose legacy transcends borders and time.
01:36.5
In the twilight of war, the United States, cloaked in the guise of benevolence,
01:41.3
embarked on a grand educational crusade in the Philippines.
01:45.1
But beneath this benevolent façade lay a more insidious malevolent intention.
01:50.7
A renowned Filipino historian, Renato Constantino, aptly named it the miseducation of the Philippines.
01:57.1
And you know, this was no mere teaching endeavor.
02:00.1
It was a calculated move to mold Filipino minds to instill an adoration for their American colonizers.
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Imagine a nation steeped in a rich tapestry of interwoven history,
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boasting universities that predated many Western institutions,
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now being told that they were uncivilized.
02:19.2
And you know, this was the height of irony.
02:21.0
As our archipelago, now known as the Philippines, a cradle of knowledge,
02:25.4
was painted as a blank state.
02:27.3
Eagerly awaiting the so-called enlightened touch of American education.
02:31.6
The irony was stark.
02:33.4
Because if you think about it, our islands had long been a beacon of learning,
02:37.3
with universities predating those in the United States.
02:41.1
And yet here we are, being taught that we were nothing but ignorant savages.
02:45.7
In the American narrative, Filipinos were depicted as little brown brothers,
02:50.6
needing the guidance from the enlightened Uncle Sam.
02:53.3
It was a tale of benevolence, or so they claimed.
02:57.1
A mission to rescue us from savagery and barbarity.
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Yet in reality, it was a cleverly veiled strategy to justify their imperial ambitions.
03:08.3
The United States sought to rewrite our history to fit their imperial narrative,
03:13.8
therefore severing us from our roots and imposing a new identity upon our people.
03:20.3
Unknown to many, this miseducation of the Filipino people actually began long before the war even ended.
03:27.1
It began while the Philippine-American War was still raging throughout the archipelago.
03:31.9
You know, while Filipinos were still fighting for our people's liberation.
03:35.5
While millions of Filipinos were still being killed,
03:38.6
not just in the battlefields, but also while still sleeping in their villages.
03:43.2
As the dawn of a new century broke, the USAT Thomas cut through the Pacific,
03:48.0
bringing with it a cadre of educators known as the Thomasites.
03:52.2
These American public school teachers, about 540 strong,
03:56.1
were dispatched across our islands.
03:58.4
From the rugged northern reaches of Luzon to the salty shores of Holo,
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their mission, cloaked in benevolence, was simple yet profound.
04:06.6
To transplant American education onto our soil, an archipelago thousands of miles away.
04:12.9
These Thomasites were not just teachers.
04:15.2
Unknown to many, they were the vanguards of a cultural invasion.
04:18.6
A sophisticated campaign to reshape the minds of a nation.
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They set foot in every nook and cranny of our islands,
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carrying with them their values and values.
04:26.3
They set foot in every nook and cranny of our islands,
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carrying with them their values and values.
04:26.4
A curriculum designed not for the Enlightenment, but for control.
04:30.2
It was, in fact, an education system that prioritized conformity over critical thinking,
04:36.6
obedience over creativity.
04:39.1
The American curriculum was a subtle yet effective tool of imperialism.
04:43.2
In a way, schools became factories,
04:45.8
where the production of commodities like furniture was emphasized over the arts and humanities.
04:51.0
This was a deliberate strategy to turn our children into mere tools,
04:56.1
in the vast machinery of American industry and capitalism.
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They were taught to toil, not to think.
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They were taught that A's for apple in the land where apples were as foreign as the snow.
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In this grand scheme, our heritage was sidelined, our stories untold.
05:12.0
The indigenous cultures, rich and diverse, were painted as primitive,
05:16.1
while the West was glorified as a beacon of progress and civilization.
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This miseducation was not just a theft of knowledge.
05:24.7
It was an erasure.
05:25.9
Under the American tutelage, a systematic erasure of Filipino identities commenced.
05:32.0
It was an education that taught our children about foreign lands and white heroes
05:36.3
while ignoring the sagas of our own people.
05:39.2
In classrooms, white American figures were exalted,
05:42.4
their stories woven into the fabric of our children's minds,
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overshadowing the tales of our own heroes and ancestors.
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Our indigenous cultures, with rich tapestries of traditions and wisdom,
05:53.3
were casted aside,
05:54.8
labeled them as backwards,
05:57.5
Instead, a narrative that extolled the virtues of white skin and Western ideals was implanted.
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This was a deliberate attempt to instill a sense of inferiority,
06:07.9
to make us believe that our brown skin was a marker of ignorance and unattractiveness.
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The miseducation of the Filipino was not just an academic endeavor.
06:17.5
It was a psychological warfare.
06:19.6
It aimed to strip away our sense of self,
06:22.0
to make us question our heritage and identity.
06:24.7
It was a process.
06:25.9
It was a process that sought to transform us into subservient followers of an imperialist ideology.
06:31.4
Our youth were taught to aspire not to the greatness of our own culture,
06:35.7
but to the alien ideals of a distant land.
06:38.2
This educational system left a lasting impact on the Filipino psyche,
06:42.8
an imprint that persists to this day.
06:45.2
It created generations of Filipinos disconnected from our own history, culture, and identity.
06:51.8
Sadly, our people, once proud and self-assured,
06:55.4
were left confused and lost,
06:57.2
struggling to find their place in a world where their own stories were deemed insignificant.
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So reflecting on these scars, these enduring scars of this miseducation,
07:08.3
let me ask you a question.
07:10.2
You know, in what ways do you think, in what ways do you think,
07:12.6
does this past continue to shape our present?
07:15.2
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
07:17.6
But you know, in the meantime, let's meet some of the amazing black teachers
07:20.8
who made an impact in the Philippines and beyond.
07:24.1
Amidst this backdrop,
07:25.4
of cultural imperialism,
07:27.2
a few African-American educators stood out.
07:29.9
Among them were Frederick Douglas Bonner,
07:32.6
John Henry Manning Butler,
07:34.3
and notably, Carter G. Woodson.
07:36.5
These men, though part of the American educational mission,
07:39.9
brought with them a different perspective,
07:42.4
shaped by their own experiences of racism and subjugation in their homeland.
07:47.6
The African-American teachers like Woodson arrived in the Philippines with a unique mission.
07:52.9
They were not merely educators.
07:54.9
They were bridges between cultures,
07:56.8
understanding the nuances of being peoples of color under a dominant power.
08:02.5
Bonner and Butler, for instance, immersed themselves in the Filipino communities
08:07.3
based on mutual respect and understanding.
08:10.4
Woodson, on the other hand, during his time in the Philippines,
08:13.6
witnessed first-hand the impact of the American education system.
08:18.2
He saw how it was used as a tool to propagate white supremacy,
08:22.2
to indoctrinate young minds with the ideals,
08:24.7
that served the imperialist agenda.
08:27.1
This experience would profoundly influence his later work,
08:30.3
The Miseducation of the Negro,
08:32.1
which would later also inspire Renato Constantino to write The Miseducation of the Filipino.
08:37.5
In the Philippines, Woodson observed a similar pattern of miseducation as he had seen in America.
08:44.1
The curriculum imposed by the Americans was a reflection of their inherent racism and imperialism.
08:50.6
It taught nothing of the Filipino context,
08:52.9
nothing of our own people's history,
08:54.7
or our own indigenous cultures.
08:56.7
Instead, it focused on instilling the English language and American customs,
09:01.8
while punishing any expression of Filipino identities.
09:05.7
This experience was eye-opening for Woodson.
09:08.7
He realized that the struggle against miseducation was not just an African American issue,
09:14.4
but a universal one.
09:16.1
It was a battle against a system designed to control minds,
09:20.3
to dictate who was worthy of knowledge and who was not.
09:24.7
Woodson's time in the Philippines was a critical juncture,
09:27.8
shaping his resolve to fight against the miseducation of his own people back in the United States.
09:34.7
Carter G. Woodson emerged from his Philippine experience transformed.
09:39.0
He returned to the United States with a renewed purpose,
09:42.0
dedicating his life to correcting the injustices he had witnessed.
09:46.3
Woodson's work was not just about reclaiming African American history,
09:50.3
it was about reasserting their identity and place in the world.
09:54.7
and efforts culminated in the creation of Negro History Week,
09:58.8
a celebration of Black identity and achievements.
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This event was a beacon of hope and a call to African Americans to embrace their heritage with pride.
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It was a radical act of defiance against a system that had long sought to diminish their contributions to society.
10:17.6
Decades later, this celebration would evolve into the Black History Month that we know today,
10:22.9
a testament to Woodson's endurance.
10:24.6
But his influence did not stop there.
10:28.3
The spirit of his work transcended oceans,
10:30.9
inspiring similar movements among Filipino Americans and other marginalized communities.
10:36.6
For example, in October, we celebrate Filipino American History Month,
10:41.2
a time to honor our own journey and contributions.
10:44.6
Woodson's legacy is a beacon of resilience and solidarity.
10:49.0
He showed us that our histories are interconnected,
10:52.7
that our struggles against oppression, and that we are all connected.
10:53.9
He showed us that our histories are interconnected, that our struggles against oppression,
10:54.4
and that we are all connected.
10:57.3
He laid the foundation for movements that seek not just to reclaim history,
11:02.1
but to rectify it in a way that honors the diversity of human experiences.
11:07.4
Today, Carter G. Woodson is hailed as the father of black history,
11:12.3
but his legacy goes beyond that.
11:15.0
He is a symbol of the fight for knowledge,
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for the right to tell our own histories.
11:20.0
His work reminds us that our history is not just a collection of dates,
11:22.2
His work reminds us that our history is not just a collection of dates,
11:25.7
but a living, breathing narrative that shapes our identities and our future.
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Now, before we continue into the final chapter of today's journey,
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I just want to share something that is close to my heart.
11:37.9
You know, if you're inspired by today's topic,
11:40.2
and if you wish to deepen your understanding about these forgotten chapters of our people's history,
11:45.5
I invite you to please check out my book, Black Lives and Brown Freedom,
11:49.1
Untold Histories of War, Solidarity, and Genocide.
11:51.9
And it's actually my very first book.
11:53.4
And it's actually my very first book.
11:54.2
This book is a deeper journey into the forgotten history of solidarity
11:58.0
between Filipinos and African Americans during the Philippine-American War.
12:02.1
You know, from Captain David Fagan in the battlefields in the Philippines
12:05.8
to Ida B. Wells Barnett in the United States,
12:08.1
it's a labor of love and respect aiming to shed light on these intertwined histories
12:13.4
and honor the shared struggles and resilience of our communities.
12:17.5
And if you are new to my channel and wish to support the continuation of uplifting and sharing these stories,
12:23.4
please consider becoming a patron on Patreon or a member of my YouTube channel.
12:27.7
You may also check out my books, coloring books, ebooks, and merch about the Philippines, Southeast Asia, the diaspora, and beyond.
12:35.3
Your support for my book, my very first book, will also support my continued research and storytelling,
12:40.3
decolonized storytelling about our people's history, culture, and everything in between.
12:45.0
So make sure to check out the links below to order your copies today.
12:48.0
And as we say in my Maritang, Dakal pong salamat.
12:50.4
And actually, apart from my book, for those of you who may not be familiar with it, it's just a copy of my book.
12:51.2
And actually, apart from my book, for those of you who may not be familiar with it, it's just a copy of my book.
12:51.5
And actually, apart from my book, for those of you who may not be familiar with it, it's just a copy of my book.
12:52.0
And actually, apart from my book, for those of you who may not be familiar with it, it's just a copy of my book.
12:52.5
And actually, apart from my book, for those of you who may not be familiar with it, it's just a copy of my book.
12:53.0
And also for those of you who may not be familiar with the Philippine-American War,
12:54.8
and the genocide, and the American occupation of the Philippines,
12:57.6
check out the links below or up here
13:00.9
Check out the links up here or down below for the YouTube playlist that I made
13:04.2
about the Philippine Revolution and Struggle for Liberation.
13:06.9
Which includes all my videos about these topics including
13:09.6
videos about the many African-Americans who fought for our people's liberation.
13:13.7
So make sure to watch them after this video.
13:15.8
Now back to our topic.
13:17.9
Carter G. Woodson's journey in the Philippines
13:21.1
Carter G. Woodson's journey in the Philippines was more than just
13:22.0
It was an educational mission. It was a profound awakening. He witnessed the mechanisms of imperialist education and how it was used to subjugate and control Filipinos. This experience was a revelation, shedding light on the broader struggle against colonialism and white supremacy.
13:41.1
In his famous book, Woodson wrote,
13:43.5
When you control a man's thinking, you do not have to worry about his actions.
13:48.3
And this insight was a direct result of his observations in the Philippines.
13:53.7
He understood that the battle for liberation was not just fought on physical grounds, but in the minds and the hearts of the people.
14:01.7
Woodson's time in the Philippines exposed him to the stark realities of imperialist and white supremacist education
14:09.0
and its ability to dictate nations.
14:11.1
To suppress indigenous voices, to enforce hegemony, and to ignite cultural genocide.
14:17.5
This realization spurred Woodson to dedicate his life to combating the miseducation of African Americans.
14:24.6
He recognized the parallels between the struggles of the black people and those of the Filipinos.
14:30.3
He understood that both were victims of a system designed to erase their histories and impose white supremacy.
14:37.3
This shared experience became a catalyst for Woodson.
14:40.7
Fueling his passion to safeguard the legacy of African Americans.
14:45.3
Carter G. Woodson alongside other black luminaries like W.E.B. Du Bois and I.W. Wells Burnett
14:51.9
became a vanguard in the movement for decolonization and liberation.
14:57.0
Their efforts were not just about reclaiming history.
15:00.6
They were about dismantling the very structures that perpetuated oppression and injustices.
15:06.7
They fought for the right to self-representation.
15:10.7
Free from the narratives imposed by white supremacist colonial powers.
15:15.5
Woodson's work transcended national boundaries, resonating with the oppressed communities around the world.
15:21.7
In the Philippines, for example, where American heroes like George Washington were exalted
15:26.4
at the expense of our own bayanis or heroes,
15:29.7
Carter G. Woodson and his contemporaries offered a more genuine narrative.
15:34.1
One that celebrated resistance, resilience, and the quest for liberation.
15:39.6
They reminded us,
15:40.7
that our histories are not defined by the colonizers, but by the struggles and the triumphs of our people.
15:47.8
And as we draw the curtains on the legacy of Carter G. Woodson
15:51.8
and the intertwined histories of Filipinos and African Americans,
15:56.1
we also reflect on the profound solidarity that arose during the Philippine-American War.
16:01.8
Figures like I.W. Wells Burnett, Captain David Fagan,
16:04.9
and the countless African Americans who empathized with the Filipino struggle
16:09.0
and joined our people's fight for freedom.
16:10.7
Remind us of the enduring power of solidarity in the face of adversity.
16:17.0
And if you think about it,
16:18.0
Carter G. Woodson's journey from the classrooms of the Philippines
16:21.3
to the heart of the African American struggle in the U.S.,
16:24.4
coupled with the many acts of solidarity across oceans,
16:27.9
are a testament to the power of education as a tool for liberation.
16:32.4
Carter G. Woodson's legacy and, you know,
16:34.7
the shared history of our struggles challenge us to look beyond the narratives handed down to us.
16:40.7
And to seek our own truth.
16:42.6
So let's honor this legacy by continuing to question the mainstream narrative.
16:47.3
By continuing to learn and to grow from our people's histories.
16:50.7
And by continuing the unwavering spirit of unity and solidarity
16:54.5
that binds our people across borders and struggles.
16:59.4
So this Black History Month and beyond,
17:01.5
you know, not just today but every day in our lives,
17:03.4
let's keep the flames of knowledge and solidarity burning brighter.
17:07.1
Let's pave the way for a future that truly honors
17:10.3
and empowers the people of our country.
17:10.7
Let's pave the way for a future that truly honors and empowers our diverse cultures,
17:12.8
diverse histories, and diverse people.
17:15.0
You know, a future where genuine peace and justice
17:17.8
truly reigns in our communities.
17:19.8
Not just in the Philippines or the U.S.,
17:21.8
but also in places like Palestine, in Gaza,
17:24.6
where millions of people are still facing genocide today.
17:28.6
Because honestly, you know, as I've mentioned many times before,
17:31.2
learning about our people's history is not just about a nostalgic longing for the past,
17:35.3
while ignoring the conditions of the present day.
17:37.6
You know, it really means being awakened and immersed,
17:40.7
in the realities of today.
17:42.3
You know, being armed and empowered by the wisdom of our ancestors.
17:45.8
You know, it means staying rooted in our people's history,
17:49.0
staying rooted in our people's struggle.
17:50.8
You know, it means taking actions to address,
17:53.0
to help address the struggles of the present day.
17:55.2
Not just in the Philippines, not just in the U.S., but beyond.
17:58.4
Because our ancestors knew how to build solidarity.
18:01.3
So let us learn from their lessons,
18:03.4
and let us be empowered by their history of solidarity,
18:05.7
and do our part in helping address and eradicate these oppressions,
18:10.2
these injustices,
18:11.4
eradicate these genocides that are happening in our world today.
18:15.0
Because what is the point of honoring our past,
18:17.8
if we cannot use these lessons from the past to make this world a better place?
18:22.7
And that is it for me today.
18:24.2
So let me know what you think about today's topic in the comments below.
18:26.8
And if you like this video and learned a thing or two,
18:28.8
don't forget to like, share this video, comment down below, and please subscribe.
18:32.5
And of course, one last thing before I go,
18:34.8
I just want to take this moment to thank my patrons and subscribers for your unwavering support.
18:39.3
You know, your love and support is the most important thing for me.
18:39.7
Thank you so much for watching this video.
18:40.2
You know, your love and support throughout these years have been the backbone of this channel.
18:43.2
It's because of you that videos like this are possible.
18:45.9
So from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much.
18:49.6
Or in Kapampangan, thank you so much.
18:51.9
And in Benisaya, thank you so much.
18:54.1
And in Bahasa Sug, may peace be with you.
18:56.5
And in Bahasa Melayu, thank you.
18:58.7
See you next time.
18:59.5
Or in Tagalog, I'm Kits.
19:00.4
And in Kapampangan, I'm Mikki Tix.
19:02.3
And in Benisaya, I'm Aita.
19:04.0
And in Thai, I'm Gergan Mai.
19:10.2
Thank you so much for watching this video.
19:12.2
I'll see you next time.
