11/30/2007 12:16:00 PM Black supremacy is not Brown's goal
Julian Hall
In his Bermuda Sun column last week ["Ewart, Julian, Rolfe; great minds, but what's their cause"], Stuart Hayward pontificated that "our history has... spawned some vengeful hearts which, when coupled with intellectual brilliance can lead to despot-like behaviour."
While I appreciate the well-covered compliment, I just feel more comfortable believing that I am unworthy of both the compliment and the underlying insult, namely Stuart's principal accusation that the primary motivation behind my [and Dr Brown's and, the UBP's latest political pinata, Rolfe Commissiong's] public utterances in support of the PLP Government, is nothing other than a desire for vengeance. The same vengeance which he callously and, without evidence, attributes to others.
I know my heart, and what is in it; vengeance is absolutely no concern of mine. There is not one utterance that I have ever made, publicly or privately, in all my years of community activism which would support the notion that I seek revenge. "Vengeance is mine. I will repay," said the Lord. That's good enough for me.
I do want justice, however, and I will fight for justice until I die; not so much for myself, but for my people.
As for who are "my people", I will leave it to those who have actually read my writings and/or considered what I have consistently stood for over the past three decades to conclude for themselves whether by that phrase I mean only black people or all Bermudians. Suffice it to say that I agree entirely with Stuart [and the sad reality is that he knows this to be the case] when he says that "the last thing we should want to do is to replace concepts and practices of white supremacy with similar concepts and practices of black supremacy...."
It would be well beyond the scope of this little piece to explain why "black supremacy", whatever that could possibly be, could never and should never be even contemplated in Bermuda or anywhere else. While I have seen some tinpot kleptocratic and corrupt regimes led by black (and yes, by many white) so-called "leaders" I have never seen "black supremacy" and I pray that I never will. I can say without hesitation that whatever "black supremacy" is, it is manifestly not the goal of the Brown administration. Social and economic justice, the creation of opportunities for those whom the system relegates to the status of underclass, are the goals of this administration; and that is why I support Dr Brown in his quest for a fresh mandate from the people of Bermuda. The oppressed must never, in the words of Franz Fanon, "ape their oppressors."
What I would like to say again and again is that the aims and goals of those who seek to dismantle white supremacy should never be viewed as an attack or assault or threat directed at whites.
It is about the hearts and minds of ALL of us, white and black; for each one of us has, in some form or another, been victimized and poisoned by this pernicious doctrine of white supremacy. Many simply do not know; if only because they haven't taken the time to analyse and to address their fears and their assumptions.
In Stuart's case, I really believe that white supremacy has either made my friend genuinely fearful of the truth or, worse, that he has, in anger, allowed himself to be used as a tool, a pawn, of those who would prevent us from knowing the truth, and thereby being set free. This is not demonization; this is calling it as I see it.
In saying this, I really do not seek to "demonise" Stuart or anyone else. There are real issues to discuss; attacks on personality are clearly neither fruitful nor helpful. Politics may be a spectator sport; but it should not be considered entertainment.
Let's look at the facts. Stuart has in one week (November 16) written that "Demonizing your critics also extracts a double cost. Not only do you lose a supporter, you are almost guaranteed to gain an opponent - that's not a sustainable game." I agree. But does Stuart agree with himself? He wrote that piece only a few weeks after he publicly accused no less than Dr. Eva Hodgson of joining forces with Premier Brown and Rolfe Commissiong of cynically seeking to "divide the races for political gain". After I and others extracted from Stuart his commitment to apologize to at least Dr. Hodgson for this ill-deserved and gratuitous insult, indeed his "demonisation" of her, he has now decided to invent out of whole cloth another vast Brown-inspired PLP conspiracy, this time directed at extracting "vengeance".
More "demonisation", surely. But who, really, is the source?
To be sure, it is entirely within Stuart's prerogative whether he should wish to continue fanning the flames of the very fire he wrongly attributes to Dr. Brown and those of us who are working tirelessly towards a renewed mandate for his and the PLP's increasingly unfolding vision for Bermuda and all our people.
The one most important thing that can be said of Dr. Ewart Brown is that he leads; and that, perhaps surprisingly to many of us, is what leaders are expected to do.
It is also up to Stuart whether he should wish to continue craving and seeking the applause and support of those whose true motivation he has apparently failed to properly consider, analyse and examine.
Reader Comments
Posted: Thursday, December 13, 2007
Comment by:
Sticks
Julian Hall is sadly misguided if he does not believe that "Black Supremacy is Brown's goal". That is exactly what Brown has been about ever since he returned to this island in the 90's with the threat that now was the time for revenge. In order to do that he ambushed the PLP organisation and is living off the back of the grass roots supporters who have fought for the cause while he has been 'off-island' for years. What is more, 'white' people like me do not feel guilt, but regret, for what has happended in the past because history will tell you that black Africans conspired with white traders to promote the slave trade by aiding the supply chain. What I do regret is that racism is promoted by unscrupulous politicians in order to enslave the minds of certain members of the community in order to hold onto power at any cost. And that is not good for anyone except the unscrupulous politicians who are only interested in themselves. Certainly not Bermuda as the political performance in so many area's can attest. A lot of Talk the Racism and not enough of the Walk for the People.
Posted: Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Comment by:
scott
"The PLP are victims of stigmatism because of the color of the majority of their members. "
followed by
"It's not about skin color but about policies."
?? so where do you stand?
Posted: Monday, December 03, 2007
Comment by:
Brian, WHAT?
Brian what are you talking about? White people will not vote for the PLP because of the issues NOT because of the members colour!! If the PLP ran a respectable platform more white people would vote for them, including myself. The UBP are way more reflective of our the make-up of our island and they preach equality FOR ALL, unlike the PLP, so how can you possible expect whites to just join a party based on colour. You cannot preach about what white people feel when you are not white!! And whats this about shopping on court street? Plenty of shops in the center of Hamilton are owned by black people and they are very successful because they are in a convenient area. White people are not flooding into Court Street because #1 its out of the way from everything else!! besides what is really for sale on court street?? a few low end clothing stores and small food stores!! Everyone knows most people dont even shop in Bermuda, they go away! Its nothing to do with white's not wanting to give black people business. Have you even wondered if white people feel comfortable going to Court Street?? I know from my own experiences as a white female that when I have visited such stores as Dub City and Connections, I get the "what is she doing here" look everytime I enter a store!! If I say 'good afternoon' NOBODY answers back and dare anyone ask me if I need any assistance! Perhaps these are reasons why other white's are not flocking to court street. So maybe you need to open your mind before you start telling 'the white man' what they need to feel and maybe ask them questions before you make accusations.
Posted: Saturday, December 01, 2007
Comment by:
Fast Eddie
I would suggest Sir, that you are the pontificator. You have tried to cover all the bases here, but in the end, it just doesn't ring true.
Posted: Friday, November 30, 2007
Comment by:
Brian
The PLP are victims of stigmatism because of the color of the majority of their members. White people are afraid because they haven't dealt with the guilt of the crimes of their forefathers. If we want to move forward as a society more white people must get over the guilt and join the PLP so that they may have a say on how the party is run. White people must shop at black businesses. Black people already shop at white businesses. Court Street must become a place for all of us, not just part of the society.
White people you have segregated yourselves out of fear.
All that said I don't agree with PLP or Brown's policies and will not support them in the election.
It's not about skin color but about policies.
