[PARTNER] Larry Itliong: Journey For Justice, Is An Important Children's History Book

Last October 25 was Larry Itliong Day! On his birthday, we celebrated Larry Itliong, the tough, resilient and courageous Filipino American labor leader who led the Delano Grape Strike and co-founded the United Farm Workers. However, most young people in the United States don’t know who he is. Filipino Americans are the oldest Asian American group in the United States, and largest Asian American group in California. We are one of the fastest growing immigrant groups in the nation, yet our long history in the United States remains absent in the curriculum of most public schools.

Last Friday October 20, we launched an IndieGoGo campaign to fund Journey For Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong, and three more books (Vicki Manalo Draves, Carlos Bulosan, and more TBA) of a planned eight-book series for children on Filipino American history and community leaders. 

Why Filipino American History books for children? We want our next generation to see themselves, their elders, and their ancestors in the history they learn. Children of all backgrounds benefit when American history is a more accurate, complete, and nuanced history that tells everyone’s stories. Filipino American history is American history.

Become part of the community that helps bring this groundbreaking project to life. Help us to bring our first book, a children’s book about the legendary labor leader Larry Itliong, into the libraries of families across the nation and in school libraries and classrooms. 

The book’s author is Dr. Dawn Bohulano Mabalon, a third-generation Filipina American, Stanford-trained historian, and associate professor of history at San Francisco State University. A specialist in Filipina/o American history, her books include Little Manila Is in the Heart: The Making of the Filipina/o American Community in Stockton, California and Filipinos in Stockton, and she is a National Scholar of the Filipino American National Historical Society and a co-founder of the Little Manila Foundation. 

Her co-author is Gayle Romasanta, author of the acclaimed Tagalog-English children’s book BEAUTIFUL EYES, used by hundreds of children in the San Francisco Unified School District. 

The book’s illustrator is Andre Sibayan, a Bay Area-based artist who has done work for companies as varied as Disney, Gap and Target, as well as community-based organizations and events.

Bridge + Delta Publishing is a Stockton-based independent publishing company founded by Gayle Romasanta.

What better way to pay tribute to Larry than by supporting this project!

BACK THIS PROJECT

When you support us, you will receive exclusive and special rewards such as a signed, first edition copy of JOURNEY FOR JUSTICE, specially designed pins and a tote based on the original designs of the Delano Grape Strike pins and logo, and a beautiful original signed poster of a page of the book, all designed by the book’s talented illustrator, Andre Sibayan. You can also buy class sets of 32 for targeted teachers and their classrooms.

If we meet our goal, we will also be donating a percentage to the Filipino American National Historical Society and the Little Manila Foundation.

Ready to bring Filipino American History to the rest of the nation and the world? Donate to our IndieGoGo today!