The Bud Dajo Massacre: Uncovering an Overlooked Atrocity
In 1906, American soldiers attacked an enclave of Muslim Moros on Bud Dajo, a volcanic mountain in the southern Philippines, resulting in the deaths of nearly 1,000 people. This massacre, described in detail in historian Kim A. Wagner's book "Massacre in the Clouds: An American Atrocity and the Erasure of History," remains an overshadowed part of U.S. history.
Wagner's book, published on May 15, 2024, delves into the event described as "the best-documented massacre of its time," with initial U.S. newspaper coverage quickly diminishing. The massacre involved American troops under Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood's command, where even women and children were among the casualties.
Wagner's detailed investigation, bolstered by archival photographs and direct accounts from American soldiers, highlights the brutal and dehumanizing nature of the American imperial project in the Philippines. The author argues that the massacre was both a result of and an attempt to cover up the imperial mission's failures in controlling the Moro population, contrasting with previous indirect rule that allowed local autonomy in religious and cultural practices.
The book situates the Bud Dajo Massacre alongside other infamous atrocities such as Wounded Knee and My Lai, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and remembering these historical events. "Massacre in the Clouds" aims to bring the suppressed narrative of the Bud Dajo massacre to the forefront of historical discourse.