According to last weekâs Bermuda Sun, the West End Development Corporation has invited other businesses to submit bids to operate the cement company.

Well, itâs one thing to call for bids ÷ most governments do that because competition encourages price control ÷ much needed in Bermuda. But how do we interpret Mr. Burgessâ remarks in the context of race?

Racism goes both ways, and not just in Bermuda: Here are some examples.

Many years ago in Savannah, Georgia ÷ still in 2004 a Mecca for all inequalities ÷ at a university counsellorâs suggestion, I applied for ăvocational rehabilitationä funds to continue my education. Iâve been ăblessedä with major bone disorders since my 20s; thus, it appeared that running up and down hospital hallways as a Registered Nurse would not last until ăold age.ä

So, thatâs what vocational rehab in the U.S. is about ÷helping those who are in need to grow in their careers so that they can continue to be productive citizens.

My counsellor warned me that ăalthough meeting the financial Îneedâ requirements (as a single mom, and very poor) you will be denied because you are not a minority. Then, weâll appeal and request a full audit of their files to review whether there is racial bias in allocation, because most certainly very few whites receive assistance. They wonât want the audit; thus, you will (fairly, Iâve paid U.S. taxes all my life) be approved.ä

And he was 100 per cent correct.

Another example, in a case in Mississippi not too long ago, a federal jury awarded a white former social worker $85,000 in her racial discrimination suit against the state. Her regional director, who was black, discharged her after 15 years of work, and her position was filled with a black applicant, as were all further vacancies in her office.

Happily, I had the pleasure last week of meeting a very dynamic non-racist government leader here ÷ one of many, Iâm sure. An associate who visited with me appealed to him for understanding that competence and motivation should be the basis for hiring, not race. The person we visited, a black male expat, understood. He noted that his place of origin had also followed the same path for many years: basing hiring on nationality and race.

ăSubsequently, the races were more divided, and the country deteriorated to the point it is now (very poor),ä he explained. He understands, but he cannot help.

No doubt, Bermuda is in ăthe third phaseä of its relationships with others. It has moved beyond its first stage ÷ identity with the U.K. And Bermudians are well past the second stage ÷ identifying the aspects of their identities that are devalued by others.

In this third stage, responding to discrimination and exploitation, people tend to embrace only those who are like themselves. But this promotes more racism and discrimination.

There is no doubt in my mind that terrible mistreatment happened. Just look at voting rights. In 1963, Bermuda approved a new voting system called ăuniversal adult franchise plus.ä Before that, voters had to own property to vote. Now all could vote ÷ but folks who owned property got an ăextra vote.ä Guess who owned the property.

It wasnât until 1968 that this ăbenefitä was removed.

Recall the theatre boycott of the Î50s, the separated by race bank lines into the early Î70s, and the lack of education for young black children beyond primary school. Many deprived people are great community leaders now, in spite of their mistreatment.

Rights which some folks now take for granted were hard fought. I think every Bermudian, or even residents here, should march up to the Phoenix and pick up every book on Bermuda history that they see. And there are many excellent books there.

Some, however, seem to have reached the fourth phase in relation to others. This is called internalization ÷ where people feel good about who there are ÷ conscious, confident, and competent. However, problems continue because advocacy is deemed to be for those identified as ăoppressed,ä but not for people of other groups.

It is not until Bermuda ÷ or any country ÷ reaches the final stage of growth ÷ realizing that all people can oppress or be oppressed ÷that this country will be at one with the world. We all are interrelated and interdependent. And all forms of life can be accepted and valued for their contribution to the greater good of the whole.

Meanwhile, itâs important to note that those who continue to exhibit racism, sexism, ageism, and so on, need not influence the communityâs sense of self. Instead, itâs important to recognize that perpetrators are themselves suffering, fragmented, and lacking in self-knowledge.

Meanwhile, if the job is bid, I hope it doesnât go to any company owned by a U.S. vice president! See, there are problems everywhere!