A forum on race relations will see prominent members of the community gather to discuss the ideology of racism and privilege.

Around 50 to 60 people, including senior executives, human resources personnel and representatives from unions and interest groups, have been invited to the event at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess hotel on March 12 and 13.

The forum will be hosted by a pair of US academics, Professor Robert Jensen and Dr. Bernestine Singley, who have been invited to Bermuda by Premier Ewart Brown. Both have focused on the issues of race and racism.

Professor Jensen currently teaches at the School of Journalism at the University of Texas. Dr. Singley is currently finishing a memoir entitled: . The pair have worked as team giving lectures all over America.

Over the past three months they have spoken with a range of individuals and associations in Bermuda including Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda.

This led them to produce a preliminary report as the basis for the ongoing discussions.

They have suggested the forum be split into white and black participants, with follow-up forums later in the year combining both groups.

Dr. Sydney Gibbons, executive officer to the Commission for Unity and Racial Equality, which is helping administer the event, said this was designed to ?increase the comfort level? at this first stage before the two groups come together later.

Rolfe Commissiong, consultant to the Premier, said the initiative was born out of the Premier?s commitment to have an honest and frank talk about race relations. He said Professor Jensen, who is white, had met here with a cross section of the white community while Dr. Singley, who is black had done the same with the black community.

Asked what was different about this race initiative Mr. Commissiong said: ?I don?t know if we have had sustained conversation on this issue which is not going to allow people to be comfortable in their preconceived notions. People are going to be challenged to come out of their comfort zone.

?The difference here is Government is committed to moving up to another level race relations in Bermuda.

?Maybe this close association with the Government itself may be viewed as being problematic ? on the other hand by having Government taking the lead on this, endorsing it and putting its money where it?s mouth is, it is sending a very powerful signal to this country that with respect to this issue the old way of doing things is no longer viable.?