The Carlos Bulosan Book Club (CBBC), established in May 2017, is a project of Friends of Echo Park Branch Library (FOEPL), located in the heart of Historic Filipinotown. The Echo Park Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) houses a dedicated Philippine Heritage Collection consisting of several hundred volumes on Filipino American life and culture.
The CBBC’s mission is to provide a forum to explore and learn about Filipino American and other immigrant experiences through literature and art, utilizing various media, including print, audio, and video formats. This project was born from the spirit of Carlos Bulosan’s America Is In the Heart, a story of perseverance and sacrifice in the face of undaunting hardship to build a better life. Our aim is to preserve our collective memory by collecting the individual stories of our contributions in the building of America.
Many critics interpret the book’s title “America is in the Heart” as Bulosan’s unrelenting optimism and hope in the American dream that he kept alive in his heart throughout his life. He and others in his community endured the devastating impact of racism and discrimination, and his chronicles sear these images in our minds. However, despite living constantly amid harsh tensions and contradictions, he ultimately goes to the side of hope. More importantly, Bulosan frequently reminds us of our shared experiences and common bonds with other peoples of color here in the U.S. and from other lands. While we spotlight our own Filipino American stories, we learn and celebrate other immigrants’ struggles and successes as we all strive to be part of America and participate in making it a more perfect Union.
The Friends/CBBC meetings are held on the 3rd Saturday of each month. Our “book sale” start at 10 am. At 12 noon, the Friends Board holds its monthly meeting. Then the CBBC start it’s meeting at 1 pm. Please join us at our scheduled monthly meetings.
