Most of us have read “My Family’s Slave” on the Atlantic, written by the late Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Alex Tizon. The article saddened us, angered us, and confused us. What’s to make of the story of Eudocia Pulido, aka Lola, who toiled her whole life against her will and without pay for a family that wasn’t her own?
There are many angles and layers to this gut-wrenching story. On this episode, the TFAL crew gives you our thoughts and reflections on the article as well as “katulong culture” in general. It’s a tough issue to wrap our heads around, and we only scratch the surface. Give it a listen and let us know what you think in the comments below or leave a voicemail at (805) 394-TFAL (8325).
Listen through the embedded player below, download directly here, or subscribe to us on iTunes here!
For more opinions on this article, check out this compiled list of responses/reactions from TFAL listener Marnette Federis. Also, for great insight on the Alex Tizon’s life, the history of enslavement culture in the Philippines, and the life of a trafficked Filipina woman in New York, listen to NPR’s Code Switch podcast episode on the story, featuring one of Joe’s grad school advisors, Professor Vicente Rafael.
Here are links to local organizations who are fighting for the rights of domestic workers and those who are victims of human trafficking:
- Pilipino Workers Center (Los Angeles)
- Filipino Migrant Center (Long Beach)
- Filipinos Advocates for Justice (Oakland)
- Damayan Migrant Workers Association (New York)
- Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Nation-wide)
- Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (Los Angeles)
