Eradicating racism

Dear Sir,

The National Association of Reconciliation (NAR) has been involved in a discussion of racism and race relations for more than 15 years while there have always been two or three whites present at all of our functions, we consider it encouraging to have had 130 white people voluntarily turn up to have Tim Wise remind them that they have, and have had, advantages and access to opportunities denied to black people - even if they disagreed with him. One hundred and thirty white people are not very many in a population of sixty thousand, all of whom have been thoroughly indoctrinated with the concept of white supremacy. But the longest journey begins with one tiny step.

This attendance is important to NAR because we are aware that there are a great many people who are convinced of the irredeemable and intransigent nature of white racism. Very often it is a belief or conviction that gives a measure of satisfaction to those who hold this belief. At the same time they are likely to ignore the role that the black community has in helping to maintain racism. As we contemplate the continuing destructive long term impact of racism it is easy to forget that white behaviour (even if not hearts or minds) has changed significantly since the 1950s. White behaviour had to change significantly in order for us to achieve Universal Franchise and general desegregation, as well as the withdrawal of Government support from segregated schools. Many of us will remember the vehement and racist resistance to that. We did that without party politics. It was a white Government that implemented these widespread and far-reaching changes.

There is clearly a difference between then and now. The current impasse and lack of significant movement in improving race relations today is as much due to the behaviour of the black community as it is to any intransigence in the nature of white racism. At that time 90 percent of the black community spoke with one voice regarding race, racism and desegregation. The white Government responded, no matter how reluctantly. Today, despite the evil and destructive nature of racism and its long-term impact, the black community does not speak with one voice and the white community ignores both the black community and the racism. Hence the significance of the 130 white people who chose to hear Tim Wise. The first significant divide within the black community came with party politics. Blacks within the different parties agree on nothing and certainly not on our response to racism and its long-term impact. On the contrary, even if one side came up with proposals that might destroy racism overnight the other side would attack them. Then there is the deep and bitter divide within the PLP and its supporters created, in the first instance, by the former PLP Premier. Much of that division was fuelled by the issue of responding to racism. Many in the black community anticipated that the PLP would immediately address the tremendous disparities between the two communities. The Premier, and eventually her personal supporters, insisted that addressing racism and its impact was not a part of her agenda. There are those within the black community who insist that they are “tired” of even hearing about “black and white”. They will launch an attack on any black person who even raises the issue. Then there are those who would call for reparation while others will not even consider the issue unless their white colleagues agree with them, no matter how many black people disagree.

Bermuda's demographics as well as the scars left by the pain, the indignity, the frustration and the shame inflicted on the black community by racism would make it seem that it is in the interest of PLP politicians to keep the racial tension between the two communities alive - even if the politicians themselves did not wish that. No mater how politically beneficial it may be for PLP politicians it is destructive for the black community and anything as evil as racism has to poison the society for every one in it.

The white community has to do nothing but to continue their indifference towards the pain and shame that has been inflicted on the black community from the time that we landed on this island in order for the racial tension to continue. That is why the one hundred and thirty white people who went to hear Tim Wise is so significant. They are the crack, or even the break, in the white wall of indifference.

As long as the long-term impact of racism remains unacknowledged it is going to be very difficult to engage most in the black community to consider anything else.

Many of the social problems which Bermuda faces today, including over development and the housing crisis, are largely because no consideration has ever been given to the impact of the developing economy on the black community as long as it benefited the wealthy and powerful in the white community. The bankers, the lawyers, the shareholders and other owners and managers have benefited abundantly while the trickle down theory has not always worked for many in the black community.

It is unlikely that the black community will ever again speak with one voice on anything, even thought it would be in the interest of all Bermuda if they at least found a way to speak with one voice on our racial disparities. But failing that NAR chooses to be encouraged by the 130 white people who cared enough to listen to Tim Wise. We have to believe that this will not be a one-off event and that there will be at least a few among those 130 who will find it possible to keep this discussion alive.

We all know that Bermuda was founded on racism, one of mankind's greatest evils, and that the foundations only began to crumble when the black community saw it as the evil that it was and a white Government responded. That is no longer true. So we must look elsewhere. It is to those in the white community who are not indifferent and who do care. They may make a black Government respond when those in the black community have not been able to do so. That is why the 130 white people are significant. Their significance will grow as they persuade others in their community that it is in all of Bermuda's interest, including their own, to eradicate all remaining evidence of racism and begin to address the long term impact that racism has had on the black community.

NAR COMMITTEE

Unfair attack

November 18, 2005

Dear Sir,

I am under attack and I think it is unfair. Mr. Tony Brannon has been pontificating at the media at length in recent days about an errant e-mail from the Premier. Attached is an e-mail that Mr. Tony Brannon surreptitiously circulated to all musicians.

If I were the lone casualty of such treachery, perhaps I could bear it in silence, but the social and political ramifications of these malicious acts affect us all.

Not only is my livelihood threatened, but also the livelihoods of the other performing musicians who serve with me at the Airport. The action initiated by this self appointed “authority” is so mean spirited as to suggest that not only is the work we do redundant, but we the people are equally redundant. He scornfully suggests that we should be ashamed to work out “the end of our days” in this job.

I would like to know by what force he was catapulted to such omnipotent prominence that he is able to predict the end of our lives. Nonetheless, he belittles and demeans us and the importance of the work we do.

One has to carefully examine the words selected by the person who initiated this assault against me to fully grasp the malice of his meaning. These words are chosen to disrupt, to cause ill, to defame and to destroy.

His secret communique sent to all musicians on the Island, with exception of me, impugns my integrity and attacks my core values as a human being. He would suggest, for example, that I and my colleagues are nothing more than ageing calypso singers, the recipients of some charitable Government dole. He further states that death would be preferable to the work that we are doing, stating that rather than doing what we are doing, he would sooner hang himself. Should he decide to exercise that option, just to show that I hold no grudges, I would obligingly sing at his funeral.

While I, personally, am the main target of his bad intentions, it is more than this. His words undermine the dignity of all senior citizens who still have so much to give. The ever-expanding legion of capable, able bodied, mentally alert older Bermudians enriches Bermudian life. Their skills and experience are invaluable. We are part and parcel of the Bermudian national treasure.

It is not in my nature to condemn another human being. I do not bear false witness against my neighbour. However, I cannot remain silent and idle when all that I have worked so hard for all my life comes under assault. My artistic and professional qualifications have been called into question; my personal credentials and accomplishments have been ignored. My resume has been distorted and worse of all he has sullied my good name. I have a right to defend myself.

As far as the allegation that I am merely a “calypso singer”, ageing or otherwise, comes from a person who is ignorant of my resume. I am very proud of my trademark moniker “Bermuda's Natural Resource”.

When work in the hotels slowed down, as a counter measure, the live performances at the Airport was created. These performances welcome the visitors to the Island and also the returning Bermudians. One would only have to observe the smiles on the faces and the tapping feet of the visitors to understand. It was a win-win situation, arriving passengers were happy and musicians were working.

Another significant disaster was the demise of the Forty Thieves Club. In its heyday, it stood as an exemplar of a first-class night club. It was not only the premiere night club of Bermuda but set a standard worldwide for fine dining and live shows. Then when they stopped producing live entertainment and substituted recorded music, it was the beginning of the end.

The once heralded club lost its appeal and its patrons and faded into obscurity. The person responsible for this would now dictate to us that we cease the live entertainment in the arrival halls of the Airport to be replaced by recorded music and in the same breath he purports to be an advocate for Bermuda musicians. And this is the individual that would have Government turn over the reigns of Tourism to him and his business associates.

In Bermuda, the traditions of live performances, such as the music in arrival halls at the Airport, must be infused with new life. The idea of replacing live music with lifeless recordings is patently absurd. Recorded music does not smile at visitors, does not with the warmth of human presence, say welcome.

I will continue to put my heart into my work as I have always done. I love Bermuda and I will take pride in representing her. The Bermudian economy is dependent upon tourism. We are all ambassadors; it is a role I take very seriously. I pledge also to all of you that I will be there for you to render my God given talents as needed, in your time of joy or bereavement.

In conclusion, let us promote the live performing arts of Bermuda. Let us not be swayed by those who create nothing, who build nothing, who can only destroy and tear down. The measure of any civilisation, which is worth its salt, is found in how vigourously it encourages and supports the arts.

There is an age old spiritual known world over that says “let the work that I have done speak for me”.

GENE STEEDE

Director of Entertainment

Bermuda Airport

Downward trend

November 29, 2005

Dear Sir,

As this season draws to an end, the reducing number of tourists are starting to be outnumbered by the vagrants, the street people, the homeless and the substance abusers who are openly drinking, sleeping on benches and hassling the remaining tourists and Bermudians in town.

The Police are nowhere to be seen. No foot patrols to move these people along. No one to give comfort and confidence to the good people and ensure that enjoyment of our once beautiful city is preserved. (Only Police response to a reported crime!) Why is this basic right of good citizens so hard for Government to understand and do something about? This is where ‘law and order' starts and what we pay for with our taxes and expect of the Police and our Government. The citizens of Bermuda (and our tourists) have rights and expectations too, and our rights should be upheld first and foremost.

Please, let us stop this downward trend and make Bermuda again ‘another world'.

R. BURNS

Pembroke

Disregard for rules

November 29, 2005

Dear Sir,

Has our Government Planning Department gone to sleep or are they on an extended vacation? If one goes around our Island, one can see glaring Planning Department irregularities at the many building sites. One does not have to travel any distance to see this. For example, along Trimingham Hill Road, you will see what used to be a residential site, now a commercial contractor's site and storage facility. If you look east from there, a two-bedroom house has been transformed into a three-storey building which ascends nearly 30 feet from the ground and built within two feet of the east and west boundaries. This is a flagrant disregard for planning regulations.

Come on Planning, please wake up and do something about these serious infractions to our building code. A daily fine should be imposed on these owners until the offending building is removed. The Island is beginning to look like a concrete jungle with less and less green area for residents and visitors to enjoy!

ANTI CONCRETE

Poor public relations

November 7, 2005

Dear Sir,

I again visited Bermuda on October 21, 2005. This was perhaps my 44th visit to Bermuda over about a 25 year period; I have lost count. Instead of a warm welcome, which you might expect for a frequent visitor such as myself, I was kept in Customs for one-and-a-half hours by an officer.

I declared gifts that I was bringing and intended to leave on the Island with friends, primarily (unopened) vitamin supplements, and a few hostess gifts, which totalled $40. The officer (she would not give her name to me) insisted that the items were worth double that, and kept me waiting - and waiting - while she ineptly tried to use the computer to look up the prices of these items. She also had two young “trainees” with her through all of this, and a gentleman who wandered over from time to time to peer into my bags with the rest of them. (I had no receipts for these products, as none had been requested of me over the past 25 years when I visited Bermuda.) The officer did not want to hear that I purchased the supplements at a vitamin discount store with an extra discount besides. She told me that she was a “Customs Officer” and her word was law. She then charged me $11 for these items.

Mind you, all this took one-and-a-half hours, and amounted to $11, and took four people! I would venture to say that this was not optimal use of Customs' time and certainly not of my vacation time. My bit of advice to the “trainees” was to NOT put frequent visitors through the wringer, and take one-and-half hours from their hard-won vacations over trifling amounts, as this is very poor public relations. (Ironically, I brought one of the more expensive supplements back with me, because my friend had wanted a different brand; I suppose I should have asked for the $11 back as I was leaving Bermuda, except I don't trifle if I can avoid it.)

Such a major annoyance! I am stopped more times than I am not in Bermuda Customs, and it is a running “joke” that I will not get to my guest house until hours after my plane lands. Especially if I am staying in Devonshire and not in Paget or Southampton. Naturally, I repeat these serial episodes to others, and many tell me that they will never go to Bermuda, because they don't want to be humiliated at the airport by Customs, as other pretty islands are wanting them to spend their money on them without the hassles.

I know that you have computers with all of my information, and you have the best of reason to wave me through, welcome me back, and wish me a safe stay.

Bermuda falling off the radar? Indeed. But Bermuda is doing it to itself in many ways, and this is just one of them.

JAN HERNANDEZ

Horsham, Pennsylvania