‘Blu’s Hanging’ writer
inspired Filipino Americans
Controversial author tapped
By Rose Cruz Churma
deep feelings in her students
IN 1990, the Filipino Association of University Women (FAUW) published an anthology of literary works written by public school students of Filipino ancestry. It was titled, "Voices of the Youth."
In an attempt to highlight the positive contributions of Filipino-American students, FAUW had solicited samples of work that the students produced in their English language arts classes.
Most of the poems, 64, were from students at Kalakaua Intermediate, while the remaining 13 were from other schools .
The poems from Kalakaua Intermediate stood out: They spoke from the heart.
The summer we were preparing the book for publication, a hapa Japanese-American graduate of Punahou worked for me. Her task was to input the handwritten poems and short stories into the computer.
She had negative, pre-conceived notions of Filipino Americans, particularly those who went to Kalakaua and Farrington High School, which she did not bother to hide. We shared a small office, so I could hear all her comments as she went about doing her job.
As she completed the manuscripts, her tone changed. One day she said to me, "They feel just like me and the things that hurt them are also the things that hurt me."
It was January, 'Voices of the Youth'
Excerpts from a 1990 poetry anthology written by Filipino students.
UNCLE
a few days after New Year's Day.
My parents at work, me at school.
My uncle was at Saint Francis Hospital
as he slowly passed away.I heard the news
as I stepped in the kitchen, that rainy day.
The dim light in the adobo-smelling kitchen
hid the teardrops in my eyes.
My hungry stomach
seemed to have changed its mind...I remember the last time I visited my uncle.
I remember how I slipped my hands
into his bony hands.
His pale eyes stared at me.
I can still remember
how he slowly turned away from me,
and fell asleep.Carmela Nones,
Kalakaua Intermediate
I'm just one ordinary Filipino boy. FILIPINO BOY
I donno why you
gotta tease me
BUK-BUK and Flip...Make me so ticked off,
wen you make fun
of my background.
Ey, I no eat black dog
and wear Imelda kine Oakleys.So, you no wat,
da people,
who no like us
jus kick back
and keep your
mouth shut!
HEARD!!!Delmar J. Bayang,
Kalakaua Intermediate
By reading what the Filipino-American kids had written, this girl had come to understand that beneath the color of our skin, or the strangeness of our speech, we are all the same.
The power of the students' literary pieces was also noticed by human-services providers.
During the early 1990s, when I was doing cultural awareness workshops for outreach workers, copies of the anthology were requested by several nonprofit organizations from all islands. The anthology provided a small window to how our young people thought, to their dreams, and to the hurts that they encountered daily.
The book also has been requested by several universities with Asian-American programs because of its value to both teachers and students, a rare publication that gives voice to the young Filipino-American experience in Hawaii.
Recently, I was asked to participate in a round-table discussion at the Association for Asian American Studies (AAAS) conference, revolving around the association's literary award to "Blu's Hanging."
I spoke in support of the award to author Lois-Ann Yamanaka, although at that time I had not met her and was basing my remarks primarily on the body of work.
In trying to understand the position of the protesters, I reread the anthology, "Voices of the Youth," as well as Lois-Ann's earlier award-winning book of poetry, "Saturday Night at the Pahala Theater." I was struck by the similarities in style.
When I finally met her after the conference, she confirmed it. Lois-Ann had taught at Kalakaua Intermediate School and yes, she was the English language arts teacher who had helped the students write with such power and intensity, about things that were important to them.
Their voices in the poems were crystal clear, sometimes filled with pain, at other times with humor and laughter, but always with honesty and integrity. Lois-Ann was able to convey to them the importance of literature, the importance of writing without fear.
She must have made an indelible mark on her students. Three of her former Filipino-American students from Kalakaua Intermediate volunteered to receive the AAAS award on her behalf, an award that would be rescinded within hours. They braved the jeers and rudeness from the protesters who chose to turn their backs to the stage when the award was given.
Lois-Ann must have believed deeply in her students. Her pride in them was so evident as she sat side by side with one of them -- one of several who will be enrolling in graduate courses in creative writing -- the night I was first introduced to her.
She talked about the things they wrote about, sometimes quoting phrases from their poetry, remembering the kids by name.
She recalled how they made plans to hide behind the thick walls of their classroom, if and when gunfire from the gang wars of the neighborhood erupted. She still keeps in touch with some of them, keeping track of their successes, and being there when they come to terms with their identity.
After the publication of "Voices of the Youth" in 1990, we at the FAUW planned to publish an anthology every year. We never did. We could not cull enough materials to publish.
The young teacher from Kalakaua Intermediate had moved on -- to write in the same way as she advised her students, to write without fear or intimidation, to write truth and from the heart.
But always to allow others to do the same. Because this is the only way that we can understand each other, so that we can live together with respect and affection. To Lois-Ann, thank you.
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Today's Letters to the Editor
Rose Cruz Churma is co-owner of Kalamansi Books,
which promotes books by Filipino authors and works from the Philippines.
"Voices of the Youth" is available at selected branches
of the Hawaii state library system.