Reclaiming Filipino labor history: The legacy of Pablo Manlapit in Hawaiian and U.S. labor movements
Original framing: “Filipino lawyers move to raise legacy of Pablo Manlapit, forgotten leader of Hawaii labor movement” — bing news
Pablo Manlapit’s activism in the 1920s and 1930s occurred during a period of intense racialized labor segmentation in Hawaii, where Filipinos were legally barred from unionizing with white and Japanese workers. His efforts must be understood in the context of broader U.S. labor history, including the exclusion of non-white workers from federal labor protections and the rise of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) as a white-dominated institution.
The story of Pablo Manlapit is not just about one man’s legacy, but about the systemic exclusion of Filipino laborers from mainstream labor history and policy.
His activism in Hawaii must be understood within the broader context of U.S. colonialism, racial capitalism, and the racialization of labor. By centering his story alongside indigenous Hawaiian resistance and other diasporic labor movements, we can begin to reconstruct a more inclusive labor history. This synthesis reveals the interconnectedness of global labor struggles and the need for a cross-cultural, intersectional approach to labor justice. The path forward requires not only historical correction but also policy reform and grassroots solidarity.