Disparities in societyJanuary 25, 2012Dear Sir,Having listened to, and heard, much of the material disseminated by Sir John Swan and Larry Burchall, when I heard Stuart Hayward I was reminded of the 1950s and 1960s. At that time, blacks were told that segregation was necessary and we, as blacks, must accept it or tourists would not come. Despite the desegregation of public places in the 60s, tourists continued to come until the 80s when, in my opinion, the UBP decided to replace tourism (which employed all kinds of black Bermudians) with international business (which was selective in its employment of black Bermudians).Today blacks are being told that we must accept the racial and economic disparities imposed by centuries of racism and keep quiet about it or the International Businesses will not return. Perhaps they will not, but neither are they likely to return as our society grows more violent as a result of so many black men having been denied opportunities in the main economic endeavours and the racial and economic disparities never having been addressed.In the 50s and 60s there were whites who were telling us that we must accept segregation. Today they are blacks who are telling us we must accept the disparities and keep quiet about it.To even mention the racial disparities is an act of “hostility towards whites” as far as some are concerned and regarded as both “offensive” and “disagreeable”.But with or without international companies and with, or without prosperity, Bermuda is going to have to deal with the consequences of our racial and economic disparities which have developed as a result of centuries of racism and which have remained unaddressed.EVA N HODGSONHamilton Parish