THE Truth Be Told, prior to the Civil Rights Movement as a young man who witnessed his 70plus years old father being called a BOY by a white man, I wanted to be white to avoid the racism that Blacks face. However, THANKS to James Brown (JB) and his song “I’m Black & I’m Proud” and to Rev. Jesse Jackson whose mantras of “Keep Hope Alive & I AM Somebody” I overcame the attack on my self-esteem to become PROUD of myself my race and our origins in Africa! For me, Rev. Jackson is one of my mentors and biggest HERO along with Dr. King Jr. and Muhammad Ali who inspired a lot of my writing style that CNMI leaders clearly HATE but can’t do nor say a thing about the TRUTH-To-Power in my Op eds! Maybe One Day that “HOPE” that I have for a BETTER CNMI will become a reality just like America & the World has changed thanks to the work of Rev. Jackson, Dr. King, Ali, myself and many others in the Civil Rights Movement that was for ALL-People-Of-Color, including the Chamorro/Carolinian People whom I never knew about until meeting my wife in 1985.
Rev. Jackson was like a “sparkplug” that caused the engine (the People) fighting for racial equality to “startup & keep running.” Dr. King was the leader, but Rev. Jackson was that all important “emotional leader” to complement Dr. King’s work and I find it “fitting & proper” that he died during Black History Month. In fact, I’m still holding on to his mantras for strength to “keep hope alive” for the CNMI to live up to the American DREAM for a BETTER society & economy that is heavily dependent on All Americans being treated Equally & Contributing to the CNMI.” Mainland Americans are a “Renter-Class” only helping property owners but not full contributors to the workforce & the economy as Locals are leaving. The CNMI can never find the American Dream alone as proven by the continuous pressing the Feds for funding and the need for an “American Workforce” which is now highlighted in the 2029-Federal Mandate.
“Keeping Hope Alive” in the CNMI is a difficult job but like Dr. King said to us in SNCC, “if not you then who and if not now then when” as the American Dream is drowning in the CNMI and it needs to be saved and allowed to flourish. So please think seriously about “keeping Hope Alive in the CNMI” during Black History Month and for the rest of this year. If YOU don’t keep-hope-alive, especially our leaders, then WHO will do the work of Keeping the American Dream Alive in the CNMI to end the mad rush to the mainland that is literally KILLING the CNMI — just ask National Office Supply the latest victim! THANKS Rev. Jackson and may you Rest-in-Peace and Happy Black History Month to All! One People One Direction to Keep-Hope-Alive FOR the American Dream.
AMBROSE M. BENNETT
Kagman III, Saipan
