In a country still grappling with the legacy of colonialism and systemic inequality, we must ask ourselves: who are the figures whose courage, clarity and lifelong commitment to justice have shaped Bermuda for the better?

Few stand as tall as Eva Naomi Hodgson, PhD — educator, historian, civil rights activist and moral compass for our nation.

It is time to formally recognise Dr Hodgson as a National Hero of Bermuda.

The recent announcement on the decision by the Naming and Recognition Committee to not name a new National Hero was deeply disappointing.

Once again, Dr Hodgson’s life’s work was not chosen, despite her profound and lasting contributions to the soul and structure of this country. That omission is not just an oversight; it is a painful reflection of the very reluctance to confront uncomfortable truths that Dr Hodgson spent her life challenging.

For more than 70 years, Dr Hodgson dedicated her life to dismantling racial injustice and to advocating for truth, equality and dignity for all Bermudians. Her work was not confined to classrooms or academic journals; it was lived in public, often at great personal cost. She challenged the status quo fearlessly, speaking out against racism in education, labour and politics at a time when silence was safer and complicity more common.

Dr Hodgson was a pioneer in education, becoming one of the first Black Bermudians to earn a doctorate in history. She used her scholarship not for self-advancement, but to rewrite Bermuda’s national story — centring the voices and contributions of Black Bermudians too often erased from the historical record.

Her landmark book, Second-Class Citizens, First-Class Men, remains a foundational text for understanding Black identity and resistance in Bermuda.

More than just a scholar, she was a relentless activist. She cofounded organisations that empowered teachers, youth and disenfranchised citizens. Her moral clarity — especially on matters of race — earned her admiration, but also resistance.

She never backed down.

Our National Heroes are meant to be examples of character, sacrifice and nation-shaping impact. Dr Hodgson meets and exceeds all official criteria:

• She made a significant and lasting contribution to Bermuda

• She enriched the lives of others through education and advocacy

• She shaped Bermuda’s national identity by telling the truth of who we are

• She is widely respected, even by those who once disagreed with her

• She demonstrated unwavering integrity and courage

To deny her this recognition sends a troubling message: that our society still struggles to honour those who confront its deepest injustices.

We must not wait another ten years to give her the recognition she deserves. Naming Eva Naomi Hodgson a National Hero is not only an act of honour; it is an act of national honesty. It affirms that we value justice, truth and the people who have fought hardest to secure them.

Let us follow her example and do what is right — even if it takes courage.

• Lynne Winfield is a past president of the antiracism advocacy group Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda