When I say 'family', I'm talking about YOU

FRIDAY, JANUARY 4: I start by saying condolences to the Weeks, Ible, Paynter, Augustus and Richards families.

Most Bermudian families originated from the Caribbean. Example, The Friths from Turks islands, Simmons and many others from St. Kitts, Johnsons from Saba.

My point is to show the folly of us separating ourselves along colour lines, when most of us share the same DNA. Holy smoke — not only are we all West Indians, but blacks and whites are indeed biological family.

I proudly come from “back of town”. Here, most West Indian immigrants settled in the early 1900s.

Not the most affluent of communities, but a close knit bunch of hard workers who shared their homes with arriving family members, shared their pots of food with neighbours, shared their trade skills to build homes for each other, shared their musical skills to build community-based marching bands and shared their athletic skills and built the best football teams ever in Bermuda.

So you see, for anyone from “back of town”, we are all related; all “Pond Dogs” are family.

Due to segregation and unfair governmental policies of the past, many sought to educate themselves and their fellow Bermudians about workers and civil rights.
They went on to form the BIU and the PLP.

Whether it be Dr. E.F.Gordon, Ottiwell Simmons, Robert Wilson, Freddie Wade or my Aunt, Dame Lois Browne-Evans.

They had no choice but to stick together in the darkest of hours in order to build these institutions from the ground up.

On many nights my parents baked goods to sell at a bake sale to raise money for the BIU or the PLP. So anyone who is a member of either institution is referred to as Brother or Sister.

Whether biological or not, anyone and everyone in the BIU, BPSU or PLP are all my family. Can you hear me now?

My parents have had a number of close friends that I was raised to call aunt or uncle. By natural progression I have called their children cousins.

They too are my family. Blood is thicker than water, but mud is thicker than blood.
I attended Elliot School and The Berkeley Institute, served in the Bermuda Regiment, worked at TelCo and now BelCo. Anyone I went to school with or served with in the army or worked with are family to me. Anyone of my fellow co-workers at BelCo are also considered family.

There is but one colour at Belco, blue. And you know us Berkeleyites stick together. Especially my Gold House Family.

At the Regiment, I first met former Royal Gazette editor Bill Zuill 25 years ago. In this instance we have been brothers in arms. So despite differing political viewpoints, we too are family.

Lately, I have been adopted by the Bermuda Sun, they too have become my family.
Having children equates to hosting friends of your children.

Many of these young persons have grown to call me “Uncle Chris". In today’s social environment, this is a badge of honour to know young persons show you respect. So many of my kids’ friends are my nieces or nephews.
Yep, more family.

Recently I have become more active politically, and inevitably have had long and hard debates with persons on all sides of the political fence.

I have locked horns with many OBA supporters and candidates on various issues. Yet whilst we go for the jugular politically, we have formed a unique bond.

Separating ourselves from the keyboards, we have met face to face on occasion and sat and talked as Bermudians. Politics and race may account for 5-10 per cent of the conversation, the rest is about life in general, so through the midst of it all, I have some OBA family it seems.

Many white Bermudians are seeking to genuinely learn about our social gaps, looking to grasp opportunites to grow past the rhetoric. Pigmentation matters not when someone looks to learn together as family. So it looks like I have a few new White cousins.

I wish to make myself clear. Anyone on this island, whether born Bermudian or resident of Bermuda, is family to me. Simply because, when Jesus, the aliens or a hurricane comes, none will be asking for a passport.

We will disagree or agree on many points as family. Yet we must realize a kind word or act will elevate us all to a better position of civility and love.
Once we as Bermudians see ourselves as family first, we will collectively move forward as an island.
We are indeed “our sibling’s keepers”.

Recently I read a document showing the origins of many Bermudian names. One name stood out as originating from St. Kitts — Cannonier.
I need to go have a word with my long lost cousin — a family intervention is needed. Love you all.