Kramer Racemaking and Col Violence

The Philippine-American War as Race War

  • The Role of Roosevelt

    • On May 4, 1902, Theodore Roosevelt emphasized colonial violence at Arlington Cemetery.

    • Cast the Philippines conflict as a race war, claiming U.S. actions represented the triumph of civilization over savagery.

  • Race Justification

    • U.S. abuses acknowledged but portrayed as less severe than those committed by Filipinos.

    • The conflict rationalized by perceiving it as a necessary means to a noble end.

Historical Context

  • Racist Constructs

    • Race played a pivotal role in the U.S. military's approach to Filipino combatants and civilians.

    • Filipino elites resisted Spanish colonial racism, striving for political rights and recognition.

  • Filipino Resistance

    • Continuous efforts for independence surfaced through revolts against the Spanish before the emergence of the war.

    • Recognition sought through international arguments, emphasizing civilization and governance capacity.

Dynamics of War

  • Guerrilla Tactics and Racialization

    • Filipinos adopted guerrilla warfare due to U.S. military superiority in conventional terms.

    • U.S. soldiers increasingly racialized their views, viewing guerrilla tactics as a mark of savagery and justifying extreme violence against both combatants and civilians.

  • Extermination and Violence

    • Racial ideologies led to legitimization of massacres and torture against Filipinos, exemplified in the "water cure" and other brutal practices.

    • Warfare embedded in racial exterminism, where distinctions between combatants and noncombatants blurred significantly.

Atrocities and Responses

  • Racial Dynamics in Atrocities

    • American defenders of the war justified atrocities by classifying guerrilla warfare as lacking civilized standards.

    • Atrocities attributed to Filipino collaborators, emphasizing racial differences to dilute American responsibility.

Conclusion

  • Legacy of Colonial Violence

    • The Philippine-American War marked a significant transition in American imperial policy, embedding race into military conflict.

    • Violent legacies of the conflict continue to affect societal relationships between the U.S. and the Philippines.