Black males have recently become the popular subject in studies, public forums and the political arena.

They are talked about. But until this week few have been asked for their views on the problems they face and what they see as the solutions.

The Royal Gazette attempted to do just that by taking to the streets and interviewing black men who have been "rendered invisible''.

Mr. Ras Bruce Andrew, who remembers his history classes at Robert Crawford as exercises in futility because he was only taught what "white men did'', stressed that education has got to be culturally relevant if it is going to be of any use.

"They really didn't teach us anything,'' Mr. Andrew recalled. "It's not surprising that a lot of guys refuse to learn that stuff. Teachers then and now are not good motivaters but then it's not their fault either because they were taught by the same system.'' When Mr. Andrew was 26 he was sent to prison for 18 months for having one pound of cannabis.

Now, at the age of 33, he is more reflective about what it means to be a black man in Bermuda today.

"Being black and male is an everyday struggle in Bermuda,'' he said. "Blacks and whites don't get along. It seems that whites get more.

"Our leaders have got to start listening to everyday people. When they hear what we have to say they have got to act and stop changing around the advice we give them.'' Mr. Andrew's sentiments are shared by 27-year-old D&J construction worker Mr.

Edward Hashim who says that institutionalised racism is one of the reasons why black men are falling by the wayside.

He said: "There are opportunities in Bermuda but these opportunities are limited. Bermuda is isolated. If you want to make it in music or sports you have to go overseas. That costs money.

"Where are young black men supposed to get that money when we have to pay high rents, help out our parents and pay taxes.

"There is not a whole lot leftover after that.

"We cannot make it without Government help but they seem more willing to spend $40 million for a new prison.

"That's just storing these guys like cattle. "A bigger prison is useless unless it is also combined with rehabilitation programmes that put these guys in touch with their humanity.'' Mr. Hashim added: "One of the most depressing things about being a black man in Bermuda is that we are no more than volunteer slaves. Emancipation did not mean freedom. Only freedom means freedom. We have physical freedom of movement but we are still slaves to whites who have economic and political power over us.

"You either play by their rules or you become a statistic. Where's the justice?'' Justice may seem a long way off but in the meantime Mr. Craig Mahon, 23, advised young black men to love themselves first.

Mr. Mahon knows firsthand what he speaks about because as a black gay man he lives in a society that has little tolerance for homosexuality.

The Appleby, Spurling and Kempe courier who has been volunteering at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for the past six years, hopes to be the first male secretary at the firm.

A non-traditional job? Maybe, but then again Mr. Mahon is anything but typical.

"When I was 13 I was very confused about what I wanted to be,'' he said. "I was worried about what was going to happen to me.

"Some people at school would tease me in school. They would say things like `hi honey' or `hi sweetheart'. But my mother told me to ignore them.

"We have to learn to stick together.

"Everybody has a right to live their own life. People who live the gay lifestyle aren't doing any harm. We're not killing anyone. We're just different.'' Seventy-year-old Mr. Earlston (Scratchie) Lawrence said he can sympathise with the difficult choices younger black men face in Bermuda.

At 36, he was a member of the Progressive Group that boycotted the theatres in 1959 that led to the desegregation of the Island's hotels and restaurants.

He has also been cutting hair on Angle street for over 50 years. And he has seen many young black boys make the transition to manhood.

"The reason why black men have survived in the first place is due to strong women,'' he said. "But these women are now being blamed for our failures.'' Mr. Lawrence also lamented the absence of male role models.

"A lot of young guys coming along now do not have fathers,'' he said. "They don't have someone who they can talk to.

"Young guys need someone to strengthen the ideas that are in their heads. But this is not happening.

"Adults talk down to them and do not take their ideas seriously.

"I see it in my shop regularly. Young guys come in here and you can see they want to say something but the conversation is always dominated by the older guys with their stories of yesterday.

"We have forgotten that we used to be young once too.

"The numbers of guys getting into trouble does not surprise me. When I was younger it was the same thing. The only difference is that guys today have distractions we never had.'' Politicians just come around when they want to strengthen their seat, Mr.

Lawrence observed.

"They do not look out for us,'' he said. "The Opposition politicians are critical of Government but they do not offer solutions.'' "Our politicians talk down to us. Many of the black politicians are not for black people. They make it but they do not then help to make the path wider for the young ones to follow and that's sad,'' he said.

And 67-year-old Mr. Alpheaus (Ardy) Black agreed.

"When our politicians want to make political gain they talk to the lesser thinking brain and convince them. That's nothing new,'' he said.

"Life is a challenge period. If you spend your time complaining about what the white man has done and continues to do that takes away from what's really important.

"Instead of complaining about what the white man has done, black men have got to be men enough to take care of their children.

"These young fellas have got to put what happened yesterday in the archives.

I'm not saying forget it, but you have got to refer to it and work hard to ensure that it does not happen to your kids.'' Mr. Black said young men are not all bad, but the family structure has broken down.

"All children are good, but what they need is direction and guidance,'' he said. "Integration was one of the worst things for us. We have lost the social networks that used to exist.

"People used to be responsible for each other. Prosperity has led to selfishness and individualism. Black people are not willing to sacrifice and struggle together anymore.'' But sacrifice and struggle are daily realities to Mr. Keith Simmons who has been a quadriplegic since he fell down an elevator shaft while working on a construction site in 1985.

Mr. Simmons said his injury has shown him how far back Bermuda is when it comes to accessibility for people who have disabilities.

"I have sought employment but I can't get any,'' the disillusioned Devonshire resident said. "Bermuda is not equipped for people with wheelchairs.'' But still Mr. Simmons labours on.

"Before my accident I had experienced the normal difficulties all people face unless you happen to be John Swan's son -- then you've got it made,'' he said.

"Black men face the normal pressures and competition from the expats. And long as you have international business you will always have expats but we need less of them.'' But Mr. Simmons admitted that many Bermudians do not want to work because they can get help from Social Services and they are satisfied with that.

"But my employment prospects in Bermuda are nil.'' Mr. Simmons intimates that being black and male are one level of difficulty but when one has a disability the problems are even greater.

Mr. ALPHEAUS (ARDY) BLACK -- "Instead of complaining about what the white man has done, black men have got to be men enough to take care of their children.'' MR. RAS BRUCE ANDREW -- "Being black and male is an everyday struggle in Bermuda. Blacks and whites don't get along.''