4. Filipino Migrant Labor and Colonial Legacies
Following the U.S. colonization of the Philippines, Filipino workers were recruited to labor on plantations in Hawaii and farms in California. Though technically free, many endured low wages, debt bondage, and racially charged exploitation, mirroring the oppressive systems of earlier slavery. Their migration was shaped by U.S. colonial interests, creating new cycles of dependency and vulnerability. These workers played a pivotal role in American agriculture—yet their hardships and activism remain under-recognized. Discover more in this PBS feature.
