NO REST FOR THE AWAKE - MINAGAHET CHAMORRO

There is an wonderfully engaging and educational free exhibit at the Guam Museum right now titled "Yanggen Ti Hita Pues Håyi?" which chronicles the movements for self-determination and decolonization over the past century in Guam. While the exhibit is up, community groups are taking advantage of the space and the history on the walls, to hold events and talks. It is wonderful to be in the space, surrounded by the work, voices and reminders of so many who have gone before. The Guam Bus and the Guam Commissionon Decolonization are holding one such workshop tomorrow titled "Yanggen Ti Hita Tumuge', Pues Håyi?" meaning "If We Don't Write It, Then Who?" It is free for all to attend and will take place tomorrow night, (6/3) in the Guam Museum's rotating gallery from 5:30 - 7:00 pm.   As part of the event, some local writers will share their work, Victoria-Lola Leon Guerrero, a writer and head of UOG Press will offer some tips on how to get your wo...

For my Pacific Daily News columns over the past month, I was focusing on providing some reflections for the recent passage of Juneteenth as a national holiday in the United States. This was partially in response to some young activists and educators on Guam, hosting a special Fanachu! episode discussing the issue from a Guam perspective. There was so much more that I could have addressed in more columns and I may return to the issue of African American history in Guam or Chamorus navigating US racial hierarchies at a later date in my column. But until then, here are the columns: ************************ Juneteenth celebration connects history of CHamorus, African Americans Pacific Daily News By Michael Lujan Bevacqua  Jun 25, 2021   Last week the United States recognized Juneteenth as a federal holiday. This is an important day whereby the U.S. can reflect not only the history of slavery, but the legacy of that inhuman institution and how it continues to impact African Am...

The position of the non-voting delegate in the US Congress is something I've been fascinated about for many years. As a scholar I’ve channeled this fascination into research. Over the past fifteen years I’ve conducted more than 50 interviews from different people who have been in some way tied to the non-voting delegate position.   I’ve been able to sit down and interview former Guam delegates Bordallo and Underwood, former US Virgin Islands Donna Christensen, former (and now deceased) American Samoan delegate Eni Faleomavaega and current delegate from Washington D.C. Eleanor Holmes Norton. In addition, I’ve also interviewed people who have worked on territorial issues in the US federal government, including those who have worked in the Guam delegate office from Won Pat and even to current delegate San Nicolas.     I dedicated a chapter of my dissertation to discuss the strange and peculiar position of the non-voting delegate. The so-called greatest country in the wo...