5/23/2007 9:48:00 AM Race: 'Polite' white people the problem?
Historic dates in Bermuda’s race relations history:
1603: Venturilla, a black man of Spanish descent, was the first known black person to visit the Bermuda. He was a crewman on a Spanish ship that was shipwrecked here.
1616: Pearl divers were brought from the West Indies. They were Bermuda's first black and Indian settlers and were not initially slaves, however slavery began soon after.
1687: A law prohibiting the baptism of blacks, both free and slave, was passed.
1762: A Watch Law was passed. Any slave not found at night in the place where he or she should be could receive 100 lashes.
1806: An Act was passed to prevent free negroes and persons of colour from possessing and inheriting land.
1834: An Act to Abolish Slavery was passed and a further act to allow free blacks and free coloured people to enjoy the same rights and privileges as other inhabitants was also passed.
1849: The first Portuguese immigrants arrived from the Madeira islands.
1883: William H. T. Joell was elected as the first black member of The House of Assembly.
1953: The first appointment of blacks to clerical positions in the civil service took place.
1957: Dr. Juanita Furbert (Guishard) became the first black nurse at KEMH.
1970: The Race Relations Council Act was passed and riots resulted in acts of violence.
1971: Sir Edward Richards became the first black leader of the UBP and the government.
Source: Commission for Unity and Racial Equality (CURE)
White people who think they are being polite are in fact adding to Bermuda's racial tensions.
A national discussion on race claims 'well-mannered' whites are holding back on saying what they really think in case they are accused of being racist.
The island's white residents, it seems, have become so over-sensitive to race relations that they are paranoid of doing or saying the wrong thing.
The result is that they have started to act differently as they are so fearful their usual actions will cause offence.
But white people are being told they must stop tiptoeing around blacks in order to move forwards towards racial equality.
This was one of the hard-hitting messages to come out of this week's open and honest discussion on race relations at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel.
Dr. Bernestine Singley and Professor Robert Jensen from the U.S.-facilitated "The Big Conversation Continues" forum.
The two-day event on Monday and Tuesday was sponsored by the Department of Communication and Information in conjunction with the Commission for Unity and Racial Equality (CURE).
Professor Jensen said the over sensitivity of whites was a "real talking point" among the 50 - mainly black and female - participants involved in the discussion.
He said: "The politeness of white folk is getting in the way of race relations in Bermuda.
"This politeness needs to be peeled away if racial justice is going to be achieved.
'Peel away' politeness
"It's going to be uncomfortable, but the main responsibility lies with the whites as they are at the top of the system."
Professor Jensen, who is a journalism professor from Texas, was invited to Bermuda after his book The Heart of Whiteness: Confronting Race, Racism and White Privilege caught the attention of Premier Dr. Ewart Brown.
He said Bermuda and the U.S. had the "same fundamental dynamics" within race relations although Bermuda had a "very distinct context."
Unlike the U.S. where there are an abundance of different races, Bermuda's struggle is very much black versus white.
Professor Jensen said the main issues to tackle on the island were education and the economy, where blacks are at a huge disadvantage.
And he is adamant the only way for the island to move forward is "to solve the problem of white supremacy."
He said: "Race relations is an emotionally-charged issue. We have heard some very powerful and very emotional things in Bermuda.
"But what is very clear is just how differently blacks and whites interpret the same things.
"There is always a tendency to revert to what you know and how you have been brought up."
Professor Jensen denied the discussion was just "preaching to the choir" as it is hoped participants will spread the word to friends and family so the need for change filters through to all levels of society.
He said: "We've had to take the initiative by reaching out to older folk as a starting point. It's not been easy for people to be so open and honest about race relations.
"But we hope it will continue and we will engage young people with future events. We are making progress and moving forward, it's a cumulative learning curve."
Further public events and discussions are planned monthly until November as the Premier wants to move the country in a "progressive new direction with respect to the issue of race relations."
In his November 2006 Ministerial Statement, Dr. Brown said: "On this particular vexed issue of race relations, we will be resolute in moving the country forward....We will leave no stone unturned in our quest to ensure that those who have been historically disadvantaged are restored and made whole." n
The Bermuda Sun had hoped to provide a full in-depth analysis of the issues discussed at the two-day race relations forum. However, within 10 minutes of the event opening on Monday, The Sun's reporter was told to leave the room so that "frank and open discussions" could take place. This announcement came despite newspaper adverts and government invitations saying the event was open to all. The Sun was therefore forced to rely on the limited information made available at a press conference.
The end of racism
The Commission for Unity and Racial Equality (CURE) say racial discrimination will be eliminated in Bermuda when:
People of different races know each other better;
There is no social/racial segregation;
Race is not considered in hiring practices;
Pride in the state of race relations is felt by all;
Racial differences are valued and celebrated;
There is an atmosphere of trust in the Bermuda community;
We live, work, support and engage each other in a respectful way.
Reader Comments
Posted: Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Comment by:
Black Peal
Right on Bob! let the truth be told and heard!
Posted: Saturday, May 26, 2007
Comment by:
John Steele
Nice article, Tom. A few thoughts come to mind after reading it.
- Contemporary racism is less about skin colour than it is about cultural traits blacks are assumed to possess, (such as being "Ghetto").
- In broad terms, there is unquestionably a gap in education levels between blacks and whites. Education disparities will always get in the way of full and frank discussions on any sensitive topic.
- White Bermudians don't live in an hermetically sealed environment, any more than anyone else. We're all part of a larger Western society which doesn't think about race 24/7. For many of us, voicing our thoughts on racism just isn't worth risking our reputation and livelihood over.
Posted: Friday, May 25, 2007
Comment by:
Jeff
The reason most whites are afraid to speak out on racism is because they are quite often speaking from an ignorant viewpoint. Therefore, the reason they tend to get their heads bitten off after speaking is because they only see it from a "white" viewpoint. That viewpoint doesn't acknowledge slavery for what it was, nor does it acknowledge segregation as being something that was right around the corner. They believe slavery had no lasting effects on all of us because they simply choose not to really read about and accept what happened.
Posted: Friday, May 25, 2007
Comment by:
WhiteChristianWoman
BermudaEye, It must take an awful lot of energy to hate so much. You speak of GOD when clearly you have no idea who he is, or what happens after life. Do you imagine yourself in Heaven after our Lord returns when you cannot get along with people on earth just because of the color of their skin. I cannot imagine Jesus wanting such a hateful individual in his perfect kingdom. I'll pray for you.
Posted: Friday, May 25, 2007
Comment by:
Bob
One Love ~ One Blood ~ One Race ~ One Place
-----------------------
Divide and rule...
It's their only plan...
-----------------------
They don't want to see us unite:
All they want us to do is keep on fussing and fighting.
They don't want to see us live together:
All they want us to do is keep on killing one another.
-----------------------
That until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned: That until there are no longer first-class and second class citizens of any nation; That until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes; That until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race; That until that day, the dream of lasting peace and world citizenship and the rule of international morality will remain but a fleeting illusion, to be pursued but never attained; And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes that hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique and in South Africa in subhuman bondage have been toppled and destroyed; Until bigotry and prejudice and malicious and inhuman self-interest have been replaced by understanding and tolerance and good-will; Until all Africans stand and speak as free beings, equal in the eyes of all men, as they are in the eyes of Heaven; Until that day, the African continent will not know peace. We Africans will fight, if necessary, and we know that we shall win, as we are confident in the victory of good over evil.
One Love ~ One Blood ~ One Race ~ One Place
Posted: Friday, May 25, 2007
Comment by:
young1
From a young black female point of view- the PLP is bringing up the race issues because FOR YEARS!! UBP was mostly white only catering to the white people so of course black people couldnt feel comfortable talking about Tuckers Town. Now that we have our government who speaks for us we feel free to discuss all the injustices that white people have brought upon us... PLP are trying to make a change in "little" areas some of you think but for us they care about what the UBP didn't like cleaning up Court Street.
Posted: Friday, May 25, 2007
Comment by:
SpudOnion
http://www.blackpeopleloveus.com/index.html
Posted: Thursday, May 24, 2007
Comment by:
Bermuda Eye
Firstly, I'm a black Bermudian. It's sad that all the white people who have posted comments that say: "blacks need to get over race" and "blacks use race as a scape-goat," and questioning the validity of Expert Robert Jensen.. You white people are the reason why racism is alive today! And that's why you WILL ALL soon join your ancestors in hell, and you will spend the rest of your eternity in the hotest chambers of that horrific place! You hate God and love gays and think that money is mandkind's ultimate purpose in life.. Just wait until your funerals! The minute after you breathe your last breath.. you will split hell wide open!
Posted: Thursday, May 24, 2007
Comment by:
Newyorker
I find it most interesting that a race debate is raised right now. I am sure that an election will be called any time now, and nothing gets peoples passions pumping more than a race debate. Blacks, in my opinion, are extremely race-sensitive, and it doesn't take many biggots on the white side to enrage what are usually moderate blacks. This is a boost for the PLP, but the PLP doesn't need any extra help. The election is in the bag for them already. What this extra boost does is help swell the tide of the pro-independence movement, as Ewart will use it in his anti-London, anti-plantation messages.
Posted: Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Comment by:
Deva Rosenberger
Not all "white" folks are afraid to speak up. And not all of us give a damn if we are called racist because of it. As a white person I agree that politeness is the problem. Perhaps if more whites were as "in your face" as blacks then there would be less tolerance for the victim mentality that is rampant in the black community. So try this on for size black folks: stop blaming all your problems on whites, try taking some responsibility for your own actions again. Don't be so sensitive every time someone makes a negative comment about your people. Stop playing the race card every time something doesn't go your way (stop crying wolf), whether it's fair or not, you need to be the bigger person and move on. Whites are constantly under fire by the multitude of other races but do we blame all our hardships on them. Where we we be with that attitude...at the bottom of the heap for certain.
