In such a tight presidential race, Asian-American and Pacific Islanders would like to be the swing vote that can provide a margin of victory for somebody—if only anyone would pay attention.
Instead, it appears the AAPI voters have taken on the trait of their subgroup, the Pacific Islanders, the people and descendants of Oceania and its three regions: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.
When it comes to the area that includes the remote unincorporated American territories like American Samoa and Guam, most people have amnesia.
Ironically, one of the moments we are reminded of this oft-forgotten group comes during the political conventions, when the cameras pan or the picture cuts away to reveal the small delegations underneath the name banners declaring a real political presence.
Unfortunately, with no electoral votes allocated to the territories, it makes for a hollow political show.
At least they had their place at the conventions.
The same cannot be said of the larger part of AAPI, Asian-Americans, who, along with people of color in general, didn’t seem to show up very much, particularly at the Republican National Convention.
