Karen Buenavista Hanna

This dissertation examines the history of the Filipina/o American Anti-imperialist Left, beginning with the exile of activists to North America during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. These activists created a new line of political organizing from within the United States that prioritized ousting a US government-supported Marcos and the establishment of Philippine national sovereignty while addressing Filipina/o concerns in the US. Using oral history interviews, original activist documents, and feminist methodologies, this study traces the evolution of the Filipina/o American Left, analyzing its organizational splits and shifts over two decades. In doing so, it pays attention to the ways that race, gender, sexuality, class, and nation shaped this under-documented movement, offering insights for present-day transnational organizing.