White people will get to express themselves about race without the possibility of being made to feel like the enemy in an unprecedented series of workshops being offered by the Commission for Unity and Racial Equality (CURE).

The workshops, entitled Race to Equality, are for whites only.

CURE's Executive Officer Sharol Simmons spoke cautiously about what she said was a "very sensitive issue".

"It's the first for Bermuda, but certainly not the first to be undertaken," she told The Royal Gazette.

The model has been in use all across the United States, she said, but has been "redesigned" for Bermuda.

CURE has facilitated dozens of workshops in the past, but has always been careful to ensure that participation is inclusive both racially and in terms of gender.

But whites in general have not been as open as blacks in the workshop sessions, she said.

"We're hoping that the right environment will be created to enable white people to talk freely without being concerned that what they say may be offensive to non-whites. A part of this process of change has to be looking at this issue realistically and not emotively."

She was quick to point out that some white people had no problem at all with being completely open but "the majority tend to hold back", she said.

"The mixed workshops tend to have blacks be far more vocal. And sometimes it can become heated whereby it results in whites holding back. So you tend to get the sense that blacks are teaching whites what racism is - we want to avoid that and open up."

The workshops will leave the participants with "a sense of wholeness", said Ms Simmons. "While at the same time they will appreciate differences in perception by blacks." Participants will then be in a better position, it is hoped, to engage in the quest for racial equality. Ms Simmons stopped short of saying that white people were intimidated by blacks in a racially mixed workshop. "I don't want to qualify that. But it's difficult for whites to feel they can contribute in an environment where their group is perceived as the problem." Two workshops are scheduled at the end of the month. CURE has set a maximum enrolment of 15 for each and interested people are asked to contact the Commission's office at 296-0613.

Ms Simmons told The Royal Gazette that interest was fairly strong since advertising started this week.

"I would encourage participants to come with an open mind and with a view to looking at the issue of how they can help advance the cause of equal opportunity at this time," Ms Simmons said.

"It's a very successful model. I couldn't stress that more - it gets the white community to really examine what it means to be white."

The workshops are due to take place between June 28 and 29, and July 5 to 6.