The first part of this history of CA farm workers really does well to let the people speak for themselves ? a documentary style that is strikingly absent in so many ?expert?-driven documentaries. The director interviews a lot of descendents of farm workers ? and even some of the original workers themselves ? and documents CA history as certain families have told it.
I thought the most interesting part was the history of Filipino immigrants. The community was the subject of racist vigilantism as many Filipino men (who outnumbered Filipino women 22:1) married white women. Antimiscegenation laws (rightfully named by one commentator in the documentary as the ?cruelest? of laws) worked alongside the vigilantism to separate the races. As one commentator noted, Filipinos encountered a different kind of discrimination than Japanese or Chinese immigrants for their very willingness to ?cross the color line.?
California's historical relationship with asian and filipino farmworkers is skillfully rendered in this first of a four part series .It is narrated by playwright Luis Valdez at the top and bottom, byt this piece really shines when the producer, Rachel Anne Goodman, takes over the mic and guides the listener directly to the workers involved in this rich, yet often hidden story of the men and women who harvested California's fields, and helped to feed the nation,
This would be a great series for the week of the 1st of May.
I enjoyed the three segments and found that each could stand alone. The pieces were wonderfully woven with real people and experiences and I enjoyed the richness of their lives and memories. I highly recommend this piece and find that the pieces regarding the internment of the American Japanese would be timely around Pearl Harbor (December) but it is also a Spring seasonal piece as well. Lovely and very well done.
Comments for Pastures of Plenty: Sailing East: Chinese, Japanese and Filipinos in the Fields
This piece belongs to the series "Pastures of Plenty: A History of California Farm Workers"
Produced by Rachel Anne Goodman
Other pieces by Coastridge Productions
Rating Summary
3 comments
gwyn leachman
Posted on April 14, 2007 at 01:05 PM | Permalink
Review of Pastures of Plenty: Sailing East: Chinese, Japanese and Filipinos in the Fields
The first part of this history of CA farm workers really does well to let the people speak for themselves ? a documentary style that is strikingly absent in so many ?expert?-driven documentaries. The director interviews a lot of descendents of farm workers ? and even some of the original workers themselves ? and documents CA history as certain families have told it.
I thought the most interesting part was the history of Filipino immigrants. The community was the subject of racist vigilantism as many Filipino men (who outnumbered Filipino women 22:1) married white women. Antimiscegenation laws (rightfully named by one commentator in the documentary as the ?cruelest? of laws) worked alongside the vigilantism to separate the races. As one commentator noted, Filipinos encountered a different kind of discrimination than Japanese or Chinese immigrants for their very willingness to ?cross the color line.?
Michael Johnson
Posted on March 20, 2007 at 10:05 PM | Permalink
Review of Pastures of Plenty: Sailing East: Chinese, Japanese and Filipinos in the Fields
California's historical relationship with asian and filipino farmworkers is skillfully rendered in this first of a four part series .It is narrated by playwright Luis Valdez at the top and bottom, byt this piece really shines when the producer, Rachel Anne Goodman, takes over the mic and guides the listener directly to the workers involved in this rich, yet often hidden story of the men and women who harvested California's fields, and helped to feed the nation,
This would be a great series for the week of the 1st of May.
Connie Ott
Posted on February 27, 2007 at 12:01 PM | Permalink
Review of Pastures of Plenty: Sailing East: Chinese, Japanese and Filipinos in the Fields
I enjoyed the three segments and found that each could stand alone. The pieces were wonderfully woven with real people and experiences and I enjoyed the richness of their lives and memories. I highly recommend this piece and find that the pieces regarding the internment of the American Japanese would be timely around Pearl Harbor (December) but it is also a Spring seasonal piece as well. Lovely and very well done.