Letter: Conversations about race relations are vital if we are to empathise, unite and prosper

Dear Sir,

Over the past five years, Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda (CURB), a non-governmental, volunteer anti-racist movement has held numerous presentations, workshops, dialogues and initiatives.  

Speakers such as Tim Wise have discussed how racism and its legacy continue to influence equity outcomes for blacks.

We also had the privilege of hearing the Archbishop of York, Reverend John Sentamu, and his wife Margaret speak about Race Relations From The Perspective of People of Faith. But what does all this conversation mean? How is it going to make a difference?

Each of us sees the world as we are, not as it is. Our life experiences shape how we view the world and set our opinions.  

In a country like Bermuda, merely 22 miles long, life experiences have been vastly different.

The legacy of racism and its economic disparity has left us with wildly disparate views of our lives and our tiny nation.

By listening to each other’s stories, we can build empathy for each other’s view. This creates the potential for significant social change.  

In his book What Kind Of World Do You Want?, Jim Lord says: “We can choose, consciously and intentionally, to change our social agreements by changing our conversations, the language we use, the stories we tell.“

In doing so, “we can open up new possibilities for society”. He also says: “Talk is essential if we are to create fresh ideas and new expectations and foster the creativity and social innovation that will spark the futures we want.”

So what do the people of Bermuda want for our society? Many would say unity, understanding, recognition, acceptance, respect, equality, economic parity, trust, truth and reconciliation.

These do not just happen. People must work towards the vision.

We cannot continue to focus on the negative aspects of our society in our daily conversations.

Our increasing cynicism becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy and threatens to overcome our hopes for our future.  

We need to focus on what is good about our society, what is good about Bermudians and what makes us unique. This is why CURB will continue to offer workshops, presentations and places for dialogue about race relations.

It fosters greater awareness of our history and how it impacts our lives, an empathy for each other’s aspirations, an appreciation of our individual strengths and a way to connect.

This will lead us to our potential as a people and a joint vision for the future.

Lynne Winfield, CURB president