After the Philippine-American War ended in 1902, Americans became fascinated by the natives of the newly acquired territory, which led to the development of anthropological exhibits showcasing what “primitive” life was like in the Philippines. During this time period, anthropologists adopted an evolutionary perspective rooted in white superiority. One of the exhibits featured the Igorot people, who anthropologist Albert Jenks believed were the most uncivilized tribe in the Philippines. These exhibits/human zoos sparked the creation of negative stereotypes of both the Igorot people and the Filipino community. Students will view the video segment from Asian Americans and engage in activities and discussions to explore the power of perception and its impact on shaping the identities of Asian Americans. Students will also examine the U.S. politics and scientific theories that shaped the perception of Americans and sought to justify U.S. colonization in the Pacific and the mistreatment of the Filipino community.

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The word “savage” has been used throughout American history to justify the mistreatment and subjugation of different people, as well as to disguise racism as American benevolence—as applied to Native Americans, Africans, Pacific Islanders, Asians, and other groups in America. It has also been used to justify the colonization of other countries because America needs to bring about civilization to them. The term implies that “savages” are an uncivilized, uneducated, and violent people in desperate need of America to save them and help them prosper in a “civilized” world. The usage of “savage” is deeply rooted in arrogance and shapes the identity of new “non-white” immigrant groups by perpetuating and maintaining white superiority and racial hierarchies.

A prime example of this was seen at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition (St. Louis World’s Fair). The 1904 World’s Fair was an opportunity for America to establish its dominance in the world and be seen as an imperial power. After the Philippine-American War ended in 1902, Americans became fascinated by the natives of the newly acquired territory, which led to the development of anthropological exhibits showcasing what life was like in the Philippines. During this period, anthropologists adopted an evolutionary perspective rooted in the superiority of whites and their culture. One of the exhibits featured the Igorot people, who anthropologist Albert Jenks believed were the most uncivilized tribe in the Philippines. These exhibits/human zoos sparked the creation of negative stereotypes of the Igorot people and the Filipino community. The United States government spent over $1.5 million transporting over 1,000 Filipinos to the World’s Fair. The total cost of the Fair was $19.6 million. The Igorot Village was one of the most popular attractions at the Fair. The exhibit served in making the claim that whites were superior and that the U.S. needed to make the Philippines a colony because of their uncivilized ways. By colonizing the Philippines, the U.S. would then have access to the Pacific for export, military, and other strategic purposes.

One of the Igorot people featured at the St Louis World’s Fair was twelve-year-old Antero Cabrera. Antero understood the true nature of the exhibit but willingly participated in it long after the culmination of the Fair. In pursuit of the American Dream, Antero sought to create a better life for himself and his descendants and was able to travel the world and achieve both economic and social status through his participation in these anthropological exhibits.

Today, the term “savage” has evolved to mean someone who has displayed an incredible amount of bravery or accomplished an extraordinary feat; however, the history of this term is much more complex. During imperialism, those deemed as “savages” were conquered, colonized, and forced to assimilate to the American way of life. Immigrants from these territories faced a tremendous amount of prejudice and discrimination in their new lives in America, solely due to the color of their skin.