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Dear Sir,

Larry Burchall's recent opinion printed in the Bermuda Sun last week entitled "In 2008 it's time to get over it" left me extremely conflicted.  

First I take issue with him calling Tim Wise a "snake oil salesman". I understand the right to take issue with his message but to label him a 'snake oil salesman' without ever having been to one of his presentations in Bermuda, is hitting way below the belt.

Anti-racist activist

Mr. Wise is recognized as one of the leading anti racist activists in the United States and is internationally known for his work.  Called "one of the most brilliant, articulate and courageous critics of white privilege..." by best selling author and professor Michael Eric Dyson of Georgetown University, I think Mr. Burchall's view of Mr. Wise is completely skewed.

I understand Mr. Burchall's opinion piece was directed at empowering black Bermudians from his perspective to no longer stand in "victimhood" but what concerns me are his words, "Get over it! Get out of the past!"  

Unfortunately, coming from a black Bermudian, it validates a widely-held white view that black people should "move on", that racism "is in the past".

Understandably this viewpoint is something many white people would prefer, because then they would not have to do anything about the current social inequality.  "Afterall", the implication would be, "if it's all in the past the reason for the failure of black people to progress today is due to their own personal failings."  

This reasoning absolves white people from the need to understand that black Bermudians still carry the legacy of the past and the fact that we ALL have a responsibility to address resulting inequalities today.

White people are beginning to do the work and come to the table as they realize that the dialogue around racial reconciliation is a positive and hopeful thing.  There are also those who are starting to listen to the discourse because they realize they can no longer ignore it as it is not going to go away.  It is understandable that some, when given the opportunity by words such as Mr. Burchall's, will cling to them as a rationale not to do anything.  If your world was changing and you felt you were standing on a precipice, would you not cling to anything that helps you hold on to the status quo?

  As white people we have to open our minds, not only to understanding the legacy that has been inherited by black Bermudians, which is clearly demonstrated by the ongoing economic disparity between blacks and whites today, but to the reality we ALL carry a legacy and we ALL have a responsibility to address the impact today. That people of colour were not provided with voting rights or with equal access to education, housing and employment, and as such they could not build up their assets/property or leave it to their children.  With no assets, they could not borrow money to improve their lives or educate their children.  

Disparities

The issue is that we ALL inherit the legacy of racism and the ensuing disparities that continue today - we just experience it differently. There are many truths in Mr. Burchall's opinion piece, but sadly in one fell swoop he has managed to reinforce the world view and uphold the stereotypes held by many white people about people of colour.  

Whether this was his intent is of no importance, it is the impact his words have on the white community that will count.

Lynne Winfield

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