There are ways to diffuse racial overtones

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7: In my lifetime I have never experienced any form of prejudice or discrimination.

As a matter of fact, for most of my life I have been taken at “face value.”

Banks seem to like me, retail stores seem to like me and restaurants seem to like me since I think for the most part, I always get a nice table.

The heads of private schools where my children attended probably didn’t like me very much, but they had the good sense to pretend they liked me since I was the one writing the donation cheque. I am, of course, white.

In many respects I look like a cliché. I am a woman of a certain age, I have highlighted blonde hair that costs a fortune to keep up and my two dozen little black dresses that hang in my closet aren’t cheap, either.

There have been very few places where I haven’t been greeted with a smile and a generous welcome. As I think of it, I pretty much sail through security at airports too. I fit in. 

That doesn’t mean that I haven’t had my share of shabby treatment and verbal scuffles. Over the years I have made a healthy number of demands to speak with “someone in charge,” but on balance I can’t complain.  There has never been a barrier in my life other than my own limitations. 

This is why I am amazed when people bristle at the notion that racism and institutional racism still exist in Bermuda. It exists. It exists all over the world and to pretend otherwise is ignorant.   Bermuda isn’t much different than the rest of the world when it comes to racism but it is certainly a more complicated subject due to proximity.

Consider this scenario: two adult men in Bermuda, one white, the other black, greet each other warmly and inquire after one another’s family. In Bermuda it’s very likely that a member of the black man’s family once worked for the white man’s family. They may have played together as children but the inevitable separation due to their race is another sad example of how racism is still not wholly eradicated.

Proximity isn’t always a positive when it comes to healing old wounds. Sometimes I am convinced that proximity with the past in Bermuda serves to ignite rather than diminish the hurt.For so many black Bermudians it’s still too close and too soon. But not tackling issues of inequality and racism is not a viable answer for any community including, Bermuda. 

Zane DeSilva, Minister of Health, has confirmed recently that his business suffered when he joined the PLP back in 2007. I don’t doubt it for a moment but what surprised me is that he neglected to point out who did stand by him. To his credit the Minister did point out that not all of his customers “took to the hills.” One of those businesses that he didn’t mention is the Gibbons Group, whose family member, Grant Gibbons is a political adversary. This is an example of when proximity isn’t convenient. 

If you’re going to “eradicate old ideologies” then it would seem fair that you acknowledge when someone else is doing their part too, especially someone whose political ideology is different than yours. The good Minister might even want to consider what response he might receive if he were to leave the PLP and join another party. Would there be those in his party who would reconsider accepting a bid from his company?

Politics can be rough and people withdraw their business for all sorts of reasons, including political affiliations. But before one casts aspersions, one better be dead certain for the real reasons and not lend their voice to a chorus of racism charges for political purposes.

In Bermuda they call election time “silly season.” Racism is never silly. It’s also a fact that being called a racist is an almost impossible charge to defend.

By acknowledging those companies that continue to support his business, Minister DeSilva would be in a unique position to help diffuse the racial overtones in the upcoming election.

If his goal is to make “Bermuda a more unified and cohesive society” this would be an excellent place to begin.