Review: “Concepcion: Conquest, Colonialism, and an Immigrant Family’s Fate” by Albert Samaha
By Asa Madarang
“Concepcion: Conquest, Colonialism, and an Immigrant Family’s Fate” by Albert Samaha is a deeply personal, compelling, and insightful book that explores modern Filipino history and the experience of immigration for Filipino Americans.
The book follows the Concepcion family in their journey from the Philippines to America, while skillfully weaving in historical context and engaging, down-to-earth personal stories from Samaha’s life. Many Filipino immigrants came to the United States in the 20th century in search of a better life, and the stories in Samaha’s writing reflect not only the experiences of the Concepcions but also common experiences for many Filipino Americans and immigrants in general. Throughout the book, he explores the struggle to identify with multiple cultures and contrasting feelings of national identity and political ideologies within his family. Samaha captures the experience of children of immigrants, how “[f]or those in the second generation there was no old country to refract a glimmering sheen upon America ''.
“[f]or those in the second generation there was no old country to refract a glimmering sheen upon America ''.
Themes of colonialism, imperialism, racism, and identity are constant throughout the book showing how they have shaped the lives of the Concepcion family and many other Filipino immigrants. These complex issues, especially against the backdrop of modern events, are shown through the disheartening but all too relatable descriptions of Samaha’s mother– a former flight attendant and successful real-estate agent who in present times is shown experiencing financial hardship and falling into alt-right beliefs. While many Americans could reference the Marcos rebellion or the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, the colonization and political turmoil in the Philippines that impacted Samaha’s family are often overlooked and under-represented in American education. Samaha presents Filipino and Filipino American history in a way that is understandable to readers and fits naturally with the story’s flow. He uses the book to criticize the established systems of racial and class inequality, as well as capitalism in America through his examination of the Filipino American experience. He analyzes the ways in which the country has failed to recognize the contributions of Filipino immigrants and speaks out against how “[a] country that considers itself a meritocracy can justify any inequity”. "Concepcion" is an important and timely book that sheds light on a crucial but often overlooked aspect of modern Filipino history and the Filipino-American experience. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the rich and complex history of Filipino Americans and the broader issues of race, identity, and immigration in the United States.