Filipinos in the U.S.: Historical, Social, and Educational Experiences

Abstract

As the second largest Asian American group, Filipinos have had a long history in the United States, with unique historical, social, and educational experiences. The purpose of this article is to better understand current Filipino American communities and educational experiences by examining the historical context of their immigration. Based on an adapted model of incorporation and literature review, the article examines government policies, societal reception, co-ethnic communities, as well as other barriers and opportunities both before and after the Immigration Act of 1965. These additional barriers and opportunities, such as education, occupation, class status, language ability, settlement patterns and time of arrival influenced their acculturation into mainstream society. Their distinct immigration history is also complicated due to centuries of colonization by Spain and later the U.S. Pre-1965 immigrants in the U.S. had a harder time in general; post-1965 immigrants had better government and societal reception overall, but they still encountered difficulty throughout their immigration history. Pre-1965 Filipino communities were stronger often serving their economic, cultural and social needs, but have become more dispersed over time as Filipinos have become less reliant on their co-ethnic networks. Their English-speaking ability, educational backgrounds, and professional skills have helped them to navigate mainstream America. Despite their overall success, there is research showing mixed educational achievement levels across later generations. The Filipino community is steadily growing and more research and support are needed to understand why educational levels vary across Filipino American students. Historical contexts can provide a comprehensive lens to understand current educational issues.

Keywords

• Filipino American
• immigration
• history
• communities
• education