The Story Of A Letter By Carlos Bulosan Pdf Free
The Story of a Letter by Carlos Bulosan
Carlos Bulosan was a Filipino-American writer, poet, and activist who chronicled the hardships and struggles of Filipino immigrants in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s. He is best known for his semi-autobiographical novel America Is in the Heart, which depicts his experiences as a migrant laborer, union organizer, and social justice advocate. Bulosan also wrote short stories, essays, poems, and letters that reflect his personal and political views.
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One of his most remarkable works is The Story of a Letter, which is not a single letter, but a collection of two letters that he wrote to his nephews in the Philippines in 1948. These letters were discovered in 1988 by Oscar V. Campomanes and Todd S. Gernes, who interviewed Bulosan's nephews in the northern Philippines. The letters reveal Bulosan's life story, his literary aspirations, his cultural identity, and his hopes for his homeland.
In the first letter, dated March 8, 1948, Bulosan tells his nephew Arthur about his childhood in Binalonan, Pangasinan, where he grew up in poverty and oppression under the American colonial rule. He recounts how he left the Philippines at the age of 17 to seek a better life in America, only to face racism, exploitation, and violence. He also shares his passion for writing and reading, and his desire to educate himself and his fellow Filipinos about their history and culture. He urges Arthur to read his novel America Is in the Heart, which he considers as his "testament" to the Filipino people.
In the second letter, dated April 1, 1948, Bulosan writes to his nephew Wilfredo about his involvement in the labor movement and the anti-fascist struggle during World War II. He describes how he organized Filipino workers to fight for their rights and dignity, and how he joined the American forces to combat the Japanese invasion of the Philippines. He also expresses his criticism of the Philippine government and the American imperialism, and his vision of a democratic and independent Philippines. He encourages Wilfredo to join the Hukbalahap (People's Army Against Japan), a communist-led guerrilla group that fought against the Japanese occupation and later against the US-backed regime.
The letters show Bulosan's remarkable ability to blend different genres and styles of writing, such as autobiography, fiction, folklore, satire, and propaganda. He uses humor, irony, exaggeration, and symbolism to convey his messages and emotions. He also draws from various sources of inspiration, such as Philippine literature, American literature, Marxist theory, and Christian theology. He creates a unique voice that speaks for himself and for his people.
The letters also demonstrate Bulosan's commitment to his social and political causes, as well as his love for his family and country. He writes with honesty, sincerity, and courage, despite the risks and challenges that he faces. He writes with hope, optimism, and faith, despite the hardships and sufferings that he endures. He writes with pride, dignity, and respect, despite the discrimination and oppression that he confronts.
The letters are not only valuable documents that shed light on Bulosan's life and works, but also powerful testimonies that speak to the contemporary issues and struggles of Filipino-Americans and other immigrants in the United States. They are not only historical artifacts that preserve Bulosan's legacy, but also literary works that inspire new generations of writers and readers.
The letters are available online for free in PDF format from [JSTOR] or from [The World of Carlos Bulosan].