Letter: Burchall fell into the individualistic trap regarding racism

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16: Dear Sir,

Larry Burchall, in his recent column, seems to have fallen into the same populist and individualistic trap regarding racism — that the reason that Bermudians of African heritage do not achieve in this race-neutral, colourblind world is because they have adopted a ‘victim’s mentality’ and the key to success is simply to throw off this mantle. 

Indeed, a businessman recently commented that “if you are Bermudian and work hard, you will succeed.”

Such views fail to take into consideration the web of structural racism — the consistent provision of advantages to one group at the expense of another group that endures over time, such that these practices become commonplace and are considered the norm. 

It is because of their prevalence that they are difficult to detect and those who do call these practices out are labelled as ‘race-baiters’ or worse.  Further more, supporting evidence is often denounced or not collected at all.

If I follow Mr Burchall’s thesis, that since there are many blacks in position of power in Bermuda our problems should easily be solved, to its illogical conclusion, would mean, for instance, that countries such as South Africa, with 18 years of democracy, should have eradicated all the social and economic ills left after apartheid. And Bermuda’s history is more aligned with South Africa’s than it is with the United States’.

Can there be victors? There are paths to victory. One can take the narrow path of assimilation. Down this smooth road paved with individual rewards, the only obstacles in one’s path are placed by oneself.

But there is a price to be paid for taking this road — one has to accept the dominant narrative on the way to individual success. And while this ‘works’ for some, they also become foot soldiers in the fight to retain that which they should be tearing down.  We can only have true victors when the structure that reinforces racism and rewards individualism are torn down and benefits accrue to the collective self.

Cordell W. Riley