4/9/2008 10:02:00 AM Organizers hope for strong turnout at whites-only forum on race
Meredith Ebbin
Whites who have difficulty understanding what all the fuss is about when it comes to race are being urged to attend a whites-only forum on Thursday.
Organizer Wendell Hollis predicts they will come away "feeling uplifted and enlightened."
Thursday's "summit," one of a series of events that Government's Race Relations Initiative is organizing as part of the Big Conversation on race, is set to take place at 7pm at Christ Presbyterian Church Hall in Warwick.
Mr. Hollis, a member of Government's Race Relations Initiative, will be a panellist, along with Lynn Winfield and Mark Nash, who are members of the anti-racism organization CURB. Hotelier and former UBP senator Michael Winfield will be the moderator.
No one knows how many whites will attend, but organizers are keen to attract whites who usually shy away from such gatherings.
Mr. Hollis said it's likely that whites who are members of CURB will come out, but "that to some extent is preaching to the converted.
"We really want to see those whites who don't normally come to these to these type of events. Those are the ones we are really trying to get out, those people who are sitting at home, worrying about the issues, but not getting involved."
The purpose of separating the races - a blacks-only forum is being planned as well - is to give people the opportunity to talk openly and honestly.
Mr. Hollis said: "It's not in any way trying to be separatist at all, but rather to encourage whites to come out and engage in the subject in an atmosphere where they feel comfortable.
"Some whites are more than comfortable to come out in a mixed society and talk about these events. But we're looking to attract those who are not so comfortable to do that, so that people can talk openly and freely without fear of any adverse effects."
Mr. Winfield, who says he has been passionate about the issue of race for years, is hoping for a standing-room-only audience.
He is heartened that a race forum held last month had a strong showing from whites.
He also said the environment may just be right for a discussion about race.
"When you listen to [U.S.] Senator [Barack] Obama, it's just not in Bermuda that this discussion is on the floor... Some whites may feel what's the point, if there are no blacks there. Some may feel nothing's going to change and some may say, 'I'd rather watch TV.'"
But he added: "Until we take action, until we start talking about it, until we start to come out of our comfort zone, until we understand there is another side, there are things here we need to understand, until we do that, we're not going to move forward."
Mr. Hollis said: "The intention is to get people talking about the subject, feeling comfortable talking about the subject and hopefully becoming more open-minded about the subject."
And ultimate aim, according to both men, is to find solutions.
