My Life as a White Person: Growing Up Inside of Literature

In Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and Encyclopedia Brown —

I lived as white children that used logic and intelligence

To solve crimes and save the day.

On Guam, I am a normal brown boy

From an island that most people haven’t even heard about.

In the Babysitters Club —

Are you there God?

It’s me, Margaret, and Ameilia Bedelia.

I was white, black, Spanish, Jewish, and even French.

I lived life being a little different

Finding out that it was okay to be 

White, black, Spanish, Jewish, French, and even weird.

On Guam, I am a normal brown boy

From an island that most people haven’t even heard about.

But —

Sometimes I am experiencing the same experiences as everyone else.

But —

I’m from an island.

In the Marvel and DC comics, 

I am white, black, brown, Jewish, Asian, Muslim, Indian, Martian, French, Canadian, Mexican, elven, dwarf, hobbit, and —

Saving the planet from others that would seek to destroy it.

On Guam, I am a normal brown boy 

From an island that most people haven’t even heard about.

I cannot save the planet —

I’m from an island.

In the movies,

On video games,

In TV shows —

I am white, black, Spanish, Mexican, Asian, Indian, alien, elf, dwarf, gnome —

Doing fantastic things

As far as the eye can see —

On Guam, 

I am a normal brown boy 
From an island that most people haven’t even heard about.  

I have chores to do —

But wait!

Look at the islanders showing up in books and movies!

I can finally be in books, TV, and movies

As long as I wear Hawaiian print shirts and shorts or a wrap and be shirtless.

I can finally be Hawaiian or Samoan —

But I’m Chamorro —

I wear t-shirts and jeans.

I guess I just have to wait for someone to write about me.

©janderson