Day 27 - Filipino Community Hall, César E. Chávez National Monument, Delano, California
📌APIA Every Day (27) - The Delano Grape Strike, a pivotal event that catalyzed the modern farmworker movement, began on September 8, 1965, in Delano, California. Led by prominent labor leader Larry Itliong, Filipino farmworkers from the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee voted to strike against grape growers in the area. Facing challenging conditions, including low wages and lack of basic amenities, the Filipino workers sought support from the mostly Latino National Farm Workers Association, led by Cesar Chavez. On September 16, 1965, Mexican Independence Day, the two groups joined forces, merging to form the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee. Over the next five years, an interracial union, fueled by solidarity and support from figures like Senator Robert F. Kennedy, emerged victorious in establishing the United Farm Workers, marking the first enduring farmworkers union in U.S. history.
Despite the significance of the Delano Grape Strike in shaping the farmworker movement, its origins are often overshadowed by the fame of Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers. In the town of Delano, efforts are underway to bring attention to the Filipino contributions to this historical struggle. Filipino Hall, where the decision to strike was made, is considered sacred ground by residents like Roger Gadiano, who describes it as their "Mecca." Many younger generations, including those with familial ties to the strike, express surprise at the lack of education about this crucial part of history in schools. Efforts to rectify this gap include recent legislation in California recognizing Larry Itliong Day and mandating the teaching of farmworker movement history in public schools. As awareness grows, individuals are working to ensure that the sacrifices and achievements of those who participated in the Delano Grape Strike are acknowledged and remembered.
LEARN MORE:
National Park Service: Filipino Community Hall at César E. Chávez National Monument
National Park Service: Workers United: The Delano Grape Strike and Boycott
NPR: Grapes Of Wrath: The Forgotten Filipinos Who Led A Farmworker Revolution (4-minute listen, including the late Dr. Dawn Bohulano Mabalon)
KQED News: The Forgotten Filipino-Americans Who Led the ’65 Delano Grape Strike (8-minute listen)
Tom & Ethel Bradley Center CSUN: Filipino American Delano Tour (9-minute video on YouTube)
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