Ambrose M. Bennett
THE TRUTH of the matter is the plight of the local people has always been tied to the plight of African Americans going back to the very conception of Slavery in America, as people of color were deemed unfit to be citizens of America. As the story goes, the Indentured Servants who were being brought from England to work the fields and do the chores were running off and they could not be captured because they couldn’t be identified being white like everyone else. So, someone came up with the great but ugly idea to only bring in Black Slaves from Africa even though there were many white people in slavery in Europe & Asia. It was just the fate of being “Black” for Africans who couldn’t run away and hide among the free white people being Black, thus the African Slave Trade Begin. After suffering over 200 years of slavery, Africans were finally freed in January of 1863, but it took a long time for everyone to know partly because some places in the South didn’t want the slaves to know they were free. It wasn’t until mid-June (19th) that the last group of slaves in Texas learned they were free, thus we now celebrate Juneteeth.
The fate of being Black (a person of color) and being subjected to racism and bigotry is not OK and it is a lesson that most of the world has learned that “color should never be the definitive nor even meaningful factor in modern society. Yet, this phenomenon of “color or race” still looms big on the mainland and even in the CNMI when it comes to certain issues, because the CNMI (or should I say our leaders) have yet to MATURE beyond the race issue, given the obvious ban of anyone who is not local being in a real leadership position in the CNMI. This phenomenon not only applies to African Americans, but it also applies to the Filipinos who have done sooooo much to “build & maintain the CNMI” in toooooo many ways to mention — THANKS for all you do and have done & KUDOS to all Filipinos!!!
But getting African Americans and even Filipinos recognized and appreciated by the CNMI is another story even when there is a clear record of “African Blood running through the bloodlines of many locals dating back to the 1700s when African Whalers jumped ship and remained on the islands after seeing the beautiful women with long hair flowing down their backs.” There is also the fact that many Locals were treated like I was treated being called the “N-word” by whites and adult men being called “boy” to demonstrate their disdain for them. So, Locals & African Americans have a lot in common because had not there been a Civil Rights Movement the plight of Locals with America would definitely be a very different story and not a story of being embraced by America but one of being “subjugated under America.” I marched with Dr. King FOR ALL People of color, including locals so, You’re Welcome and you can almost bet that no one is going to say thank you, which is why CHANGE is needed! This reminds me of Sodom & Gomorrah and only needing ONE!
But as my MaDear might say, “don’t worry Bro, ONE DAY it will all change,” as I have been waiting for the day that I (Ambrose M. Bennett) didn’t have to sponsor something or there would be nothing FOR African Americans. There are actual National Holidays for African Americans that are not recognized by our government, as even the White House and many cities and towns are conducting events for Juneteeth & MLK Day. The last recognition was the one I sponsored a few years back for Juneteenth, which was the last time I saw my friend and great citizen of the CNMI John Joyner. Maybe next year our Governor will do something given this reminder and the many fine examples that are being set on the mainland. But what I like most about Juneteenth is that is the day my wife and I met back in 1985, so it will be 39 years for us on Juneteenth — it was destiny for us to even meet! Happy Juneteenth everyone and see you again next year I pray.
One People, One Direction.
Ambrose M. Bennett is an Economist who minored in Sociology, a Political Scientist, a retired teacher & former CNMI Board of Education Member, a James Madison Fellow (U.S. Constitutional Scholar), a Fulbright-Hays & lifetime Humanities Scholar who resides in Kagman III in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
