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Dear Sir,

Your Columnist, Mr. Larry Burchall, names a few blacks, successful in their fields, and contends that they have "moved on", whatever that means.  My question is, 'why are there so few'? And why is there such an economic disparity between the black and white communities?

  Your columnist frequently refers to himself as having "moved on". Permit me to do something similar.  I could claim that my academic success and the various scholarships and financial grants that have been awarded me, not only in Bermuda but from Columbia University and the U.S. Federal Government indicates that I have "moved on".

However, I am not doing so. In the first place when I was in high school there was only one secondary school for young blacks that had the resources to lay the foundation for whatever followed. There were four or five secondary schools for a smaller population of young whites. I know that there were other young blacks at the time who could have accomplished as much or more if racism in the Government had not ensured that such opportunities were not available for very many blacks.

That was destructive to many whose lives today are very different from what they might have been. In addition, when I returned to Bermuda with all of my academic qualifications and professional experience (having "moved on") because I was not prepared to blame blacks for the racial divide and all of its consequences, I was denied all kinds of professional opportunities. (and therefore could not "move on"!)

Because of the hard work and sacrifice of my parents and grandparents, I could claim to have "moved on" since I own my own home. But I do not because I know that there were others who worked as hard but who were exploited and demeaned by employers who benefited and accumulated wealth from their labour while they could accumulate nothing to pass on to their offspring and therefore neither they nor their offspring  could "move on" .

Despite what he wrote, your columnist and I do not agree that the gombey culture is responsible for black dysfunction. I asked the question "tongue in cheek" because he had made much of it in an earlier column. On the contrary I believe that the satisfaction and pride which those involved in the artistic expression of the dances and preparation of the costumes ensures that they are not involved in more self destructive behaviour.

I would encourage your columnist and others to see the film "Post-traumatic Slave Syndrome" by Dr. Joy Leary - unless he is too closed minded.

Eva N. Hodgson

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