The First Asian American Settlement

In many historical narratives, AAPI history is often mentioned in the brief, isolated context of the Gold Rush, Transcontinental Railroad, or Japanese Internment. It’s rare to see Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders as a part of the U.S.’s beginnings. Yet, records show that the first Asians who arrived in America did so in 1587.

In 1587, a crew of Filipino sailors arrived in California with Spanish soldiers, Franciscan friars, and a Japanese boy. Called “Indios Luzones” at the time, they were part of a mission to hunt for islands and trade Chinese goods. The Spanish claimed the land for the king of Spain. There was a clash with the indigenous peoples in the area, resulting in the death of a Filipino sailor. Afterward, the group moved on to the final destination of their trade route.

The presence of a Filipino crew with Spanish explorers early in America’s history reminds us that Spanish colonization affected both the Americas and Asia, with the Spanish colonization of the Philippines being almost complete by the end of the 16th century. Later, in 1763, the first Filipinos settled in America, building a fishing village alongside other people of color. They were the first documented Asian American settlement. 1587 may not be a year that most associate with AAPI history. But far from being a footnote, AAPI history should be taught and considered in a way that reflects its longevity, interconnectedness, and intersectionality with other histories of people of color in the U.S. and within the broader narratives of America’s past.

📸: Library of Congress