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Diversity Newsletter: Happy Filipino American History Month!

    In celebrating diversity this October, we're reflecting on notable events in Filipino American history, the festival of Diwali, and the start of spooky season with Samhain 👻

    Kamusta pô kayó,


    This is a polite greeting translated to how are you? in Tagalog, which is one of over 120 dialects from the island nation of the Philippines. 


    Filipino American History Month

    Photo is of Filipino American Larry Itliong and Mexican American Cesar Chavez, instrumental figures in advocating for farm workers rights in the U.S.
    Photo is of Filipino American Larry Itliong and Mexican American Cesar Chavez, instrumental figures in advocating for farm workers rights in the U.S.

    October honors Filipino American History Month, commemorating the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the U.S. on October 18th, 1587 when sailors enlisted by the Spanish navy arrived on the shores of Morro Bay. Fil-Am activists initially began celebrating this month in 1992 until it was officially recognized by Congress in 2009. This month reflects the Filipino principle of utang na loob, translating to “a debt of your inner self,” or the belief that upholding respect and recognition for the plight of your ancestors is crucial.A few of many notable events in Filipino American history include:


    • Manong Generation: Filipino workers migrated to the West Coast and Hawai’i to work as low-wage workers in the 1920’s-30’s. These were often young, single men who engaged in physically intensive work, and were paid less than white and Mexican laborers. Despite being U.S. nationals, due to the Philippines being a U.S. territory at the time, these workers faced discrimination and racism. An example being that it was forbidden for these workers to marry white women due a California anti-miscegenation law. The word manong translates to “older brother” in Ilocano, and recognizes the pioneering role these workers played for generations of Filipino Americans.

    • Larry Itliong and the Delano Grape Strike: In 1965, Filipino grape workers in Delano, California, led by Larry Itliong, voted to strike against unfair wages and exploitative conditions. At first, they were largely striking on their own, but soon formed an alliance with Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta’s Mexican American union, and also gained allyship with the Black Freedom Struggle. This partnership formed the Delano Grape Strike, a five-year effort that united over 10,000 farmworkers and gained national attention, eventually leading to the formation of the United Farm Workers (UFW), the first prominent farmworkers’ union in U.S. history. October 25th is marked as Larry Itliong Day in California.


    • Congressional Gold Medals: In 2017, Filipino World War II veterans were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President Obama in recognition of their extraordinary service and sacrifice. Over 260,000 Filipinos fought under the U.S. flag during the war, defending Bataan, Corregidor, and other fronts, with many soldiers losing their lives, and facing lower pay and status, segregation, and discrimination. The promised veteran benefits they were supposed to receive were revoked after the passing of the Rescission Act of 1946, which instead provided the Philippines government with $200 million following the country’s newfound independence. While surviving veterans received this award, the highest civilian honor, many still did not receive compensation or benefits.


    Events


    • The Asian American Neighborhood Festival will be taking place on Saturday, October 12th from 11am - 3pm at the El Presidio de Sánta Barbara Historic Park (123 E. Canon Perdido St. in Santa Barbara, CA).

    • The Filipino American Fiesta will be taking place on Sunday, October 19th from 11am - 4pm at the Museum of Ventura County (100 E. Main St. in Ventura, CA).

    Resources


    Diwali: The Festival of Lights

    Photo is of lit "diyas" or clay lamps, in celebration of Diwali.
    Photo is of lit "diyas" or clay lamps, in celebration of Diwali.

    Diwali, or Deepavali, meaning “garland of lights,” occurs annually during the Hindu month of Kartik, and marks the end of a 14-year war in which the exiled Prince Rama of Ayodhya was victorious. This festival, although holding different meanings, is also observed by Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists, and first began 2,500 years ago. In India, Diwali is a five-day event, with many elements incorporated throughout celebrations within the diaspora:


    • Day 1 (Saturday, October 18th): Dhanteras is considered an auspicious day for wealth and prosperity, where candles, diyas, rangoli, and flowers decorate the home, inviting the goddess Lakshmi in for wealth. 


    • Day 2 (Sunday, October 19th): Kali Chaudas honors the goddess Kali, destroyer of negative energy and illness, and focuses on purging evil from the home.


    • Day 3 (Monday, October 20th - Tuesday, October 21st): Diwali Lakshmi Puja is the primary day of Diwali, and is devoted to the triumph of light over darkness, occurring on the darkest day of the lunar month, and the day of the new moon. The celebration includes lighting diyas to symbolize lighting one’s inner light, followed by a feast, sweets, and fireworks.


    • Day 4 (Wednesday, October 22nd): Govardhan Puja is dedicated to Lord Krishna, with special appreciation given towards nature.


    • Day 5 (Thursday, October 23rd): Bhai Dooj celebrates the bond between siblings, specifically between brother and sister.


    October is also Hindu Heritage Month, and specifically aims to promote cultural inclusion and an understanding of the Hindu way of life. Alongside Diwali, other Hindu festivals take place around the fall season, such as Navaratri (the celebration of the divine feminine), Durga Puja (honoring the goddess Durga), and Dussehra, a precursor to Diwali.


    Samhain and All Hallow’s Eve

    Photo is of figures wearing "disguises" or masks made of natural materials in the Celtic tradition of Samhain.
    Photo is of figures wearing "disguises" or masks made of natural materials in the Celtic tradition of Samhain.

    Samhain is an ancient Celtic festival traditionally celebrated on the night of October 31st into November 1st. Due to the uncertainty of winter’s approach after the abundance of summer, and the shift of less light and greater darkness in the sky, Samhain was seen as a liminal time when the boundary between the living and the spirit world grew thin, allowing ancestors and other spirits to cross over. To protect themselves, people wore disguises, lit bonfires, and carved turnips into lanterns to scare away unwanted spirits.


    The name of Halloween was derived from the Christian “All Hallow’s Eve,” where Celtic traditions were absorbed into Christianity to foster greater ease in the conversion process. These traditions, reshaped over time, eventually made their way to the U.S. due to Irish immigrants migrating after the Irish Potato Famine. With more time and a new setting came adjustments, trading turnips for pumpkins, “guising” (children going door to door for food or money) into “trick or treating,” and games of divination and fortune telling for kids and adults alike. While today’s Halloween has largely lost its religious and superstitious overtones, it still echoes Samhain’s central themes of acknowledging mortality, honoring the unseen, and celebrating community.


    In addition to Filipino American History Month and Hindu Heritage Month, October is also ADHD Awareness Month, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, LGBT History Month, and National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Here are diversity-based dates in October:

    • October 1: Yom Kippur (Jewish)

    • October 2: Dussehra (Hindu)

    • October 10: World Mental Health Day

    • October 11: National Coming Out Day (LGBTQ+)

    • October 13: National Indigenous Peoples’ Day (United States)

    • October 15: International Pronouns Day

    • October 19: Spirit Day (LGBTQ+ Anti-Bullying)

    • October 20: Sikh Holy Day (birth of Guru Granth)

    • October 20: Diwali (Hindu)

    • October 22: International Stuttering Awareness Day

    • October 25: Larry Itiliong Day (California)

    • October 31: Samhain (Wicca/Paganism) 

    If you have a correction, question, or would like to expand on anything stated here, please reach out to SBCAMFT Diversity Director, Aute Porter, at diversitydirector@sbcamft.org.


    Thank you for reading, and wishing you all a happy spooky season!


    In liberation,


    Aute Porter, MMFT, LMFT

    (she/her)

    Director of Diversity, SBCAMFT

    diversitydirector@sbcamft.org

    Located on the unceded lands of the Chumash-Barbareño people.

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    Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month!

      ¡Hola comunidad!,


      Esta semana comienza el Mes Nacional de la Herencia Hispana, del 15 de septiembre al 15 de octubre. Comienzo este artículo en español para honrar a las muchas personas de nuestra comunidad de Santa Bárbara que son bilingües y tienen el español como lengua materna.


      National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans whose roots trace back to Mexico, Central and South America, Spain, and the Caribbean. Established first as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 by President Lyndon B. Johnson and later expanded to a full month by President Ronald Reagan in 1988, the celebration begins on September 15th to coincide with the anniversaries of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, and with Mexico and Chile on September 16th and 18th. 


      The pan-ethnic term “Hispanic” was formally adopted by the U.S. Census Bureau to describe those with “Spanish origins or culture,” while Latino is specific to those from Latin-America (for example: someone who speaks Portuguese from Brazil). Attempts to find a gender-neutral term, such as “Latinx” and “Latine,” appears to be a continuous dialogue. Some feel these terms promote inclusivity, while others feel it is “anglicizing,” lacking connectedness to Latinidad identity. According to recent Census data, Hispanic/Latino is the largest racial-ethnic group in Santa Barbara County, and is the second largest within Santa Barbara City. 

      California, including Santa Barbara, was originally part of Mexico until the mid-19th century, when the U.S. gained vast territories through the end of the Mexican-American War via the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. For Mexican families who had lived here for generations, their homes, farms, and communities suddenly became part of a new country overnight. They did not migrate; instead, political borders shifted around them, coinciding with the slogan, “The border crossed us.” Power dynamics around land ownership shifted, with Mexican families who had lived in the area for some time becoming landowners or laborers on large ranchos, while new migrants from Mexico and Central America worked in agriculture. Latino workers were essential to Santa Barbara’s growing agricultural and industrial economy, including to oil fields, railroad construction, and citrus fields, contributing greatly to prosperity in this region. In many ways, the identity and heritage of Mexican and Chicano communities are profoundly rooted in this land, and the influence of Latine culture is ever-present, through the street signs honoring family names (like De la Guerra, Carrillo, and Gutierrez), to Fiesta celebrations every August.


      Hispanic and Latino populations have experienced great hardship in the U.S., evidenced now more than ever with the Supreme Court’s ruling just last week. Persecution targeting Spanish-speaking immigrants, such as the current enforcement of ICE, is unfortunately not new. In his book, The Latino Threat: Constructing Immigrants, Citizens, and the Nation, Leo R. Chavez highlights that various waves throughout U.S. history have emphasized the perception of Latinos as perpetually “threatening to invade,” imposing danger on American people, culture, and identity, and therefore fervently deemed as “other.” This narrative often led to the direct harm of Latinx folks, a few examples include: the lynchings of Mexicans in Texas during La Matanza, Zoot Suit Riots in Los Angeles in June 1943, where young Latino men where sought out and beaten, and the spraying of Bracero workers with harmful pesticides. Despite this rhetoric, Latinx people have significantly contributed to American culture through advocacy and labor rights, such as César Chávez and Dolores Huerta’s work with the United Farm Workers; political leadership, such as associate justice of the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor; arts and music, through Judy Baca, Frida Kahlo, Celia Cruz, Bad Bunny, and Lin-Manuel Miranda; and literature, with writers like Sandra Cisneros highlighting immigrant experiences.


      In regards to mental health, Hispanic and Latinx individuals are often impacted by systemic racism, discrimination, language barriers, economic hardships, and limited access to affordable healthcare. Many families are touched by immigration stress, or the fear of deportation, which can create ongoing terror and trauma, potentially altering family dynamics, attachment systems, and financial stability. Cultural stigma around mental health can discourage folks from seeking therapy, and a lack of bilingual or culturally responsive providers further limits access to care. As an example, a study found that Latinos were less likely than whites and Asians to get the mental health services they needed, and were more likely to miss work as a result. These pressures can contribute to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and trauma within Latinx communities, while also creating feelings of isolation. Despite these challenges, strong family bonds, cultural pride, and community networks often serve as important protective factors, supporting resilience and healing.


      Local Events


      Local Organizations

      I know there are many more! Please feel free to share with me any that you love that I am missing :)


      Resources


      Please reach out to me at diversitydirector@sbcamft.org if you have a correction, question, or would like to expand on anything stated in this blog post.


      En liberación,

      Aute Porter, MMFT, LMFT #153925

      SBCAMFT OFFERS SUPPORT FOR MEMBERS USING THE NEW WEBSITE

        The kids are going back to school, some of our members are teaching classes again for the fall quarter and all SBCAMFT members are set up on our new website. 'Tis the season for learning something new! To make learning to navigate this new website easier, we have created easy-to-follow pdfs with visual steps for members to do any of the following tasks:


        1.) Reset your password and start using the website as a paid member.




        2.) Customize your Forum (a.k.a. Groups) notifications so you can receive as many or as few emails as you would like (or none at all!).




        3.) Learn how to edit your profile content and privacy settings for your Therapist Directory listing if you are a paid member.




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