Currently, there seems to be a renewed interest in ridding the island of racism. Two letters come to mind; the first was sent by Lynn Winfield, president of CURB, who encouraged white Bermudians to apologise for past treatment of blacks as a result of racism; the second was sent by Sir John Swan who urged that Bermudians must begin thinking of ourselves as one community before we can rid ourselves of racism.

I shall begin this discussion by asking a question the answer to which might seem obvious to all who have not thought too seriously about the Race issue. I searched the Internet for a suitable definition of racism and discovered one that had been developed by the Anti-Defamation League of America.

They state, "Racism is the belief that a particular race is superior to another, that a person's social and moral traits are predetermined by his or her inborn biological characteristics. Racial separation is the belief, based mainly on racism, that different races should remain segregated and apart from one another." I thought that this definition would certainly not meet with an objection from most of my friends and relatives, with the exception perhaps of cousin Larry Burchall.

The main reason that I believe that the definition has great authenticity is because of the history of the group who developed it — the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia located on the Internet, describes the ADL as follows: The ADL is a United States of America-based international non-governmental organisation, describing itself as "the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency". The ADL states that it "fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects civil rights for all."

The organisation was founded in 1913 by B'nai B'rith in the United States. Its original mission statement was "to stop, by appeals to reason and conscience and, if necessary, by appeals to law, the defamation of the Jewish people. Its ultimate purpose is to secure justice and fair treatment to all citizens alike and to put an end forever to unjust and unfair discrimination against and ridicule of any sect or body of citizens".

Readers who have a serious interest in the considerable contribution of this organisation to the resolution of controversial issues that have their origins in racism can access easily information about them by typing "Anti-Defamation League" in the search section of any computer.

While neither Sir John nor Mrs. Winfield would claim to have answers to what Sir John admits is a very complex social issue, I believe that their commentary on this issue should encourage more of us to put our views in print. To the extent that we are prepared to state clearly and distinctly how we feel about racism, the condition will very quickly seem much less difficult or impossible to resolve.

What is unique about racism is that it is one of the few aspects of social behaviour that we feel powerless to do anything about. Yet, we readily admit that something should be done about it. Who should do something about it? The average Bermudian would declare, "Not me of course; in the first place I am completely without racial feelings and further, I simply do not have the time and energy to try to do something about a social condition that the rest of Bermuda seem to support with little or no concern."

The last statement is voiced so often by Bermudians that a rational human being has to wonder, "If so many people do not practise racism, why is it that the same people seem so confident that nothing can be done about removing this condition as an important facet of our society?" I will dare to suggest that the problem of racism remains with us because so many of us have self-paralysed ourselves into thinking that the issue is unsolvable.

Yet, very frequently in our so-called "racist" Bermuda, we meet a person of a different race or nationality whom we find most enjoyable and may even invite that person to have a drink or a meal with us. Unfortunately, when the encounter is over, we both go our separate ways with each thinking "That was a nice chap. Too bad they all are not like that."

We make this generalisation without thinking that just a few minutes or hours prior to our delightful encounter with this person of another race or nationality; we also included that person among those we would readily designate as "racist".

How would the situation change should we decide that all other members of this person's race are really like him/her and than begin to adjust our behaviour to make it possible to interact fully with persons of that other race or nationality? We could start with those on our job, continue with those in our church, and pick it up with those who share entertainment with us and really go overboard and engage persons we actually meet on the street.

I don't advise meeting people on the street and starting up a conversation. I am thinking rather in terms of fully exploring the possibilities in the following common Bermudian greeting, "Good Morning, Isn't this a wonderful day?"

That approach might induce a warm rejoinder such as, "It sure is! When I stepped into this wonderful sunshine this morning, I actually considered taking a day off from work but we are really hard pressed at the office and taking the day off would not be fair to my colleagues." You might continue, "I hope you don't mind me asking but what sort of work do you do?"… and away we go.

Making a new contact is really that easy. It does not take an extraordinary imagination to visualise where such an opening could end up. By the way, when you are beginning on this new mode of behaviour, make certain that you do not practise on a person of the opposite sex. This might bring on needless hostility and kill your new behaviour before it even gets off the ground.

On the other hand, if you happen to be an attractive person of either sex, your new venture might take you down paths that you might rather not tread. Clearly, with a little thought, we can all work out strategies that will enable us to build relationships with persons of another race or nationality. Further, in the process, we will certainly enlarge our knowledge and understanding of the people with whom we share this planet.

In closing I would like to share with readers an experience that I had during the first week of my thirteen-year stay in Canada. I was standing on the corner of King and James in Hamilton Ontario, when I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning around I gazed into the face of the darkest person I had ever seen in my life. He smiled and asked where I was from. I stammered "Bermuda."

He replied, "Where is that?" I explained, although somewhat annoyed that he had not heard of the greatest place in the world but remained sufficiently calm to ask him where he came from. He explained that he was from Ghana, had been educated in Oxford University and was doing graduate studies at McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario. This five minute encounter completely demolished my colonial education about Africa. This early education described Africa as a place where black savages spent the entire day trying to avoid being the dinner of the lions.

In addition, my African friend explained that he was the holder of a Rhodes scholarship — a scholarship for which black Bermudians were expressly forbidden to compete at the time of our conversation. He explained further that he had annoyed his father who wanted him to follow in the tradition of his family and study law so that he could become a judge as so many of his forebearers had done since the late nineteenth century.

"My goodness," I thought, this charcoal black man comes from a family which has developed several judges and Bermuda had not at that time delivered its first black magistrate." Clearly, there are wonderful experiences to be obtained by getting rid of our fears of interacting with people who are different. This enjoyment is likely to be even more profound, if the new person is of a different race and/or nationality as well.

calvin@northrock.bm