Young people continue to encounter racism as they move into the workforce, according to the antiracism group Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda.Teens would benefit from taking part in Curb’s truth and reconciliation talks, vice-president Cordell Riley said.“One thing we would like to do is develop programmes targeted specifically at young people, aged anywhere from 12 to 19,” Mr Riley said.“I can tell you from experience with young people, they are more inclusive at a younger age, but they notice the divisions as they get older. They see it when they get into the job market.”Rolfe Commissiong, a Progressive Labour Party backbencher, said the persistence of “structural and systemic” workplace discrimination highlighted the need for legislation.Mr Commissiong said: “That is why I have been a fervent proponent, and will continue to be, for an affirmative action-style programme codified under law.“It would serve as an insurance policy for bright young, qualified, university-trained black Bermudians — to ensure they would not be at a disadvantage.”He added: “I do not believe you can legislate morality, but you can legislate behaviour.”Mr Commissiong singled out Jonathan Reiss, the president of Hamilton Insurance Group, who in 2018 spoke out on the “legacy of white supremacy” that had skewed the racial make-up of Bermuda’s private sector.Mr Commissiong added: “Only speaking for myself, I believe this is an historic opportunity. I don’t think we can wait any longer for voluntary change. I believe it needs to be codified under law.”He said legislation such as the Workforce Equity Bill, drafted by the PLP government in 2007 but never debated in Parliament, was “maybe an idea whose time has come”.Mr Commissiong said: “At the least, we need to see a discussion taking place. In Bermuda, racism hides in plain sight.”Mr Riley estimated that Curb’s “community conversations” of race and racism had been completed by close to 200 people over the past three years.He said Curb had recently received a donation from an undisclosed organisation to continue its talks this spring.Curb still faces “some scepticism about our independence”, Mr Riley noted.But a survey last year of 323 voters showed 86 per cent saw a need for non-governmental groups such as Curb to work towards achieving racial justice.Mr Riley said: “Once people step into the room, certainly during the truth and reconciliation community conversations, they see a different side of us, they can see what Curb is really about.”He added: “The fact that we’re non-governmental and do not receive a government grant speaks to our level of independence. If we had government funding people might criticise us as being biased.“We are able to call the shots as we see them.”The activist and statistician said Curb ultimately aimed to get 1,000 residents through its group conversations on race.The talks, launched in February 2017, bring together small groups led by mediators over a three-month period to share experiences and views.Mr Riley said a young participant from one of the early groups had subsequently encountered racism in the workplace.“He was moving up the corporate level and found he was only able to make it so far,” Mr Riley said.“He came to the conclusion that it could only be because of race.“Young people have their wide scope of friends, but as blacks in particular move to the workforce they start to see subtle discrimination.“You hear things like ‘I didn’t see it at first’ and ‘Now I see some of the things you were talking about’. It’s still there — it’s subtle.”Mr Riley added: “By creating that awareness among young people, perhaps they will join in the work and reach other people their age. Ultimately, we hope that results in less racism.”• To learn more or join Curb’s next round of talks, e-mail admin@uprootingracism.org or call 707-1496