For last Saturday’s class, we spent a great deal of time reading about the various theories out there. But most of the assigned readings and the subsequent group class discussions left me feeling emptier in the heart while filled intellectually. I felt that I was yet again having to learn the ways of the oppressors, the majority, those who ruled from the ivory tower.
While the teachers spoke so eloquently and so passionately about “our” place in academia and the struggles to fight the oppressive forces of the “others” they did not give us the content to understand ourselves, to celebrate our indigenous theories, our local achievements, our roots and identities.
I couldn’t hold back any longer so I asked, “Who exactly are the “they” that we’re fighting?” “Who represents our indigenous theories and practices and thoughts?” What I was really asking was, “Who is speaking for the indigenous Micronesian cultures and people while we continue to build a cadre of intellectuals, poets, writers, educators who can articulate for us our own ways?” Are the Hawaiians speaking for us? Are the Polynesian authors doing it for us?
The question of Micronesian contribution to academia has taken on even more meaning for me now that I am the only Micronesian in the cohort doctoral program Professional Educational Practice at UH Manoa. I have a sense of responsibility, an intellectual hunger for all things Micronesia. All questions. All authors. All challenges. All ideas. All history. All views. All of it.
I want nothing more than to hear Micronesians speak up, write, perform, argue, for ourselves.
I want Micronesians to climb the ivory tower only to put thatched roof on it to let in fresh air. I want Micronesians to break down the ivory walls and lashed woven coconut palms to set free the old colonial mindset…the stale air of foreign elitism.
I want Micronesians to transform the ivory towers once occupied by the elite class of Western-educated “intellectuals” into open air thatched roof uuts, bai, or meeting huts where everyone’s voices, yes including women’s and youth’s, are respected. I want us to topple the divisive towers of Babels to let people sit together grounded in their self-worth and dignity.
I want Micronesians to ask questions and provide the answers. I want us to courageously share ideas he alo ahe alo (face to face) on things that matter to us. Yes, us as we see, feel, caress, appreciate, celebrate ourselves! Unapologetically! Respectfully!
In closing, I honor this aspiring Micronesian poet for speaking our truth and for answering the ever present Micronesian question…at least the questions most often asked right here in Hawaii.
The Micronesian Question
by Emelihter Kihleng
For those who
Think they know
Wonder
Don’t care
Or haven’t given thought to…
WHAT IS A MICRONESIAN?
No, not a POLYNESIAN
Not a MELANESIAN
MICRONESIAN
MICRONESIAN
MICRO-NESIAN
Micro
Small
Miniscule
Invisible
Ignored
Isolated
Distant, “tiny islands”
MICRONESIANS
Migrating
Moving
Island hopping
On Continental Air Mike
Departing from our islands
Descending upon the U.S.
who gave us
permission
back in ‘86
slowly getting noticed
across Honolulu
FOB MICRONESIANS
women wearing
colorful,
bright,
long skirts
Pink combs in long hair
Walking by the road
On The Bus
With babies
Accompanied by
other women
With babies
Dangling gold earrings
Crammed into apartments
Movin’ on up
Stereotyped
Misrepresented
Speaking “MICRONESIAN”
If you read the news
You’d think we were
Invading legal aliens
Newspaper Headlines Read:
“MICRONESIAN BILL TOO LONG OVERDUE; THE ISSUE: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OWES HAWAII NEARLY $100 MILLION FOR SERVICES PROVIDED TO IMMIGRANTS FROM MICRONESIA”
“MICRONESIANS: THE INVISIBLE MALIHINI”
“HAWAII MAY GET HELP IN HELPING MICRONESIANS”
we are a “BURDENSOME” group
of more than 10,000
50% living below
federal poverty level,
relying “not only on educational services but on social-welfare services, health care and safety-net programs”
CAYETANO CLAIMS:
“WE SIMPLY CANNOT ABSORB THE EXTRA COSTS OF PROVIDING SOCIAL SERVICES AND MEDICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE NEEDED BY SUCH POOR MIGRANTS”
Are MICRONESIANS the only “POOR MIGRANTS” coming here?
Are MICRONESIANS guilty of consuming all
food stamps
invading all
KPTs,
Mayor Wrights,
and Palolo housings
Using up all
QUEST,
WIC,
MEDICAID
and welfare on island???
I DON’T THINK SO.
So where are all these “MICRONESIANS” coming from?
Who are we?
What are we?
MICRONESIA
POLYNESIA
MELANESIA
colonial constructions
colonial creations
imaginations
configurations
divisions of Pacific Islands
MICRONESIA in the Western Pacific
between Hawaii and the Philippines
And YES, Guam, the U.S. Territory,
is located in MICRONESIA
And the people there, Chamorros,
are MICRONESIANS in denial
the term “MICRONESIAN”
Was first coined on Guam
To distinguish Guamanians from
Their non-U.S. citizen, inferior neighbors migrating to Guam
MICRONESIAN became a means to
Discriminate and target a vulnerable population
At George Washington High School
On Guam
MICRONESIANS
Are discussed on a daily basis
Those fucken MICRONESIANS
I’m not sitting by stupid Trukese
I would never go out with a fucken Trukese, I’d shoot her if she tried to kiss me
my school
segregated
MICRONESIANS in A and B wings
in the cafeteria eating free lunch
Filipinos in C and D wings
Chamorros in E and F wings
And everyone else around someplace
Chuukese, AKA Trukese
not allowed
To wear red
The school
Said that was
The Chuukese gang color
MICRONESIANS don’t identify as MICRONESIANS
We were given that identification after leaving home
Upon coming to Guam and Hawaii
Each of us unique like
Tongans,
Samoans, and
Hawaiians
Who do not merely identify as Polynesians
WE ARE:
Pohnpeians
Palauans
Chuukese
Chamorros
Kosraeans
Nauruans
Yapese
Gilbertese
Marshallese
and More
WE SAY:
Kaselehlie
Alii
Ran Annim
Hafa Adai
Lenwo
Mogethin
Yokwe
So what is a MICRONESIAN?
Can you tell me what is a MICRONESIAN?
An outside invention?
A misconception?
A location?
A population?
MICRONESIAN lacks concrete definition
An inadequate
Insufficient
Identity
Misplaced
Bestowed wrongly
Upon a large and diverse
Pacific Island population
Who are not under one flag
Who do not speak one tongue
Who do not eat the same food
And most of all who
Do not want to be recognized as one
===
Emelihter Kihleng is a Micronesian. She was born on Guam and raised in Guam, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, and Pohnpei. She is currently an M.A. student in English, Creative Writing, at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
This poem and bio were borrowed from TinFishPress.com
