Bermuda businesses must visualise an integrated workforce for the future or young Bermudians won't be able to build a society of equals.

This was said by Marvin Williams, keynote speaker at the Commission for Unity and Racial Equality's (CURE) annual Excellence Awards and Luncheon yesterday afternoon at the Fairmont Southampton Hotel.

Celebrating excellence among Bermudian businesses was the topic of choice at the luncheon. Mr. Williams, the senior partner of Aptus LLC in San Francisco, Dallas and Miami, said: "Bermuda must see itself 25 years from now. It must see itself five years from now. It must accept no delay in moving toward its vision."

He continued: "It must visualise an integrated workforce with people of all hues at all levels of management and responsibility. Without this vision the people will perish. Without this vision, young Bermudians, Black and White and many others will not be able to see their future or be able to build an exciting and dynamic society of equals."

Mr. Williams' speech was entitled, 'In Praise of Excellence'.

He said: "I come today in excellence.

"Let it go forth from this place and time that people of good will gathered together on this small beautiful island to celebrate the efforts of those who have walked the talk, those who have done the deed, those who have in principle and practice promoted equal opportunity in Bermuda's workplace."

The speaker told a story about universities and colleges denying entrance to black students in the 1950s and 1960s.

He explained blacks were only allowed to be admitted to Historically Black Universities and Colleges (HBUC).

"Then after a long struggle, a Civil Rights bill was passed and the world changed. In my senior year, I received 148 letters from the world's universities. What happened? Did I suddenly get smarter? No. The world got smarter," he said.

Mr. Williams explained black people were becoming a large force in the world's economy. Many businesses began wanting them as customers.

Mr. Williams gave the definition of Affirmative Action as "providing access and opportunity to otherwise capable people of colour".

He told a story of going on an interview in Los Angeles and was told by the chief operating officer he was the best man for the job, but wouldn't fit in the company.

Days later, he was selected by another company to do the same job and became the man's client.

Mr. Williams said: "We are here today to praise excellence. We are here to praise and celebrate those who ignored the tipping point and hired and promoted people of colour based solely upon their competence."

The speaker told another story of taking his wife and sons on a tour of Oak Alley in Louisiana. His young son asked who built it and the answer was slaves.

He then asked how much were they paid and when he realised they weren't he said the bosses got a bargain.

Mr. Williams added black people in the workforce have been providing bargains for a long time.

He ended his speech by saying everyone in the room was there to celebrate Bermudian businesses that have decided to become a part of the vision, to create the future and do the right thing.