Happy...

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!

One of the funny things we've encountered here in Saipan is how the student's view themselves.

We have had several discussions about their skin tone/ ethnicity. They think they're black. I have to keep reminding them that the term "black" when referring to people is synonymous with African American's. They are not, nor are any of their ancestors, from Africa. Saipan was settled by the Spanish, German and Japanese before the US gained control in WWII.

Don't get me wrong. These kids look like islanders. They have darker skin with dark, beautiful, hair and eyes. But they're not any darker than some of the Mexican-Americans that live in South Texas. These kids only think of features in terms of black and white. According to them, people have black hair or blond hair, nothing in between. There can be black eyes or blue eyes, again, there are no other possibilities. They are black and I am white. Me, with my olive skin, and fabulous tan that I am able to maintain year round, I am considered white by these kids. What do they know! I almost took offense to that!

Anyway, last week someone asked why we even bothered to take MLK day off. Before I had a chance to answer, another student said, "If it weren't for MLK you'd be sitting in the back of the class. We all would!" I just thought, "well, no, because you're not black!" Could the whole class have to sit in the back? If there were segregation on Saipan, there would be no one to sit "up front."

Oh, these crazy views. They suffer from small world mentality, but it adds some humor to my day.