`Respect', a theme to which I have returned to like a broken record for the last 20 years, has suddenly taken on `talk show' significance.

As a black person `over 50' I can recall the time when there was a great deal of respect within the black community. Of course all black people were supposed to respect all white people, which they did with a mixture of fear and subservience. My call for a show of respect has sometimes been accused of being a call for subservience; however when respect is mutual it is certainly not.

Within the black community, we were disrespected and demeaned by the dominant community towards whom we were supposed to show respect. That was subservience. None of us held `high office', or any office at all, because we were the `drawers of water and the hewers of stone', but we had our own hierarchy of respect.

This included teachers, preachers and any one older then ourselves. The latter was the most democratic of all -- since we all grow old. We showed this respect by giving a title to those to be respected.

Since it was an enshrined policy that no white person would give any black person a title, although all black people were supposed to give all whites a title, that became and remains important. The older black men who swept the streets were given a `Mr.' When the white community needed black people in order to retain power some of us suddenly became `integrated'. Segregation had been such a scar on our psyche that those who played this role suddenly took on the `white' values in a very superficial fashion while demeaning `black values'' and black people who were not `integrated'.

Older blacks, in particular, were officially demeaned and scorned because of their struggle in the 1960s, a struggle which was responsible for this superficial `integration'. In addition, those younger blacks who had never been involved in any struggle were those who were now given the much desired `white collar' roles, with salaries that the older generation could not have conceived.

This structural change became reason enough for this younger generation of white collar, high salaried blacks to treat the older generation, often those who had once taught them, with contempt and disrespect, while expecting `respect' from that older generation because of the role that had been bestowed on them.

Very often the rudeness and lack of respect which these blacks demonstrate is a result of their insecurities in a role which they may have achieved too quickly and without struggle since other blacks had done the struggling for them and were too often better prepared then those who were given the role.

Inevitably, this destruction of black values by high profile, decision making blacks led to the gradual disintegration of the black community. Seeing no one speaking on their behalf and seeing how blacks were disrespecting each other many became alienated and antisocial, giving no respect to any one, not even whites.

This was particularly true of those who enjoyed none of the benefits or reward of this apparently very prosperous society. There is little wonder that we have seen the kind of criminal activity which would have been out of the question at one time. This Government was elected to address these issues.

The Caribbean, much poorer materially but without a dominant white presence, were able to retain their traditional `black' values while, at the same time, giving to those blacks in their new roles, the same respect that they had given to their colonial masters.

Rather than demeaning their older generation that had struggled to bring about change, as younger blacks in Bermuda have done, they built busts and sculptures of them and turned them into national heroes and heroines which are evident in the airports and other public places.

They have no problem with including the living in these rituals of appreciation and respect. When one of our Ministers went to St. Kitts to the Carifesta, he was shown the kind of respect that meant that he had a special identification tag and was given a driver and a car for his convenience.

When a Caribbean minister came to Bermuda for a college conference, she could have been a housemaid for all of the special attention that she was given by the organiser who, not so incidentally, happened to be white.

The high profile, decision-making blacks in the former Government set an example which has been disastrous for the black community, and consequently for the entire society. There was always the hope that a new Government in a "new Bermuda'' would set a different example. But, together with the Premier's Tea, much that existed under the former Government, regarding those over fifty, remains the same, with the same consequences.

Mr. Dale Butler, having been to the Caribbean, has been calling for leadership in the matter of respecting and appreciating our own. Unfortunately it is a cultural trait that we have turned our backs on, we have lost the skill.

The high profile, decision making blacks, like ministers, are going to have to set the example, even if it means showing respect for some of the older generations of blacks that have never reached their high social status. That may take humility.

There are those among the `common' people who are ready to be led. In some cases they are leading. Recently I have had the privilege of attending three very different functions of appreciation by blacks, for blacks for something other than sports.

Mr. Edward Welch, who is no Government official, together with his family, hosted an appreciation dinner for Mr. Ira Philip. Mr. Philip is a long-time journalist who has recorded many of the struggles of the black community.

My book `First Class Men, Second Class Citizens' would have been impossible without his reports in the Bermuda Recorder. Mr. Welch's gratitude stemmed from an article which Mr. Philip had written concerning the activities of his forebears.

Mr. Philip's contribution, however, goes far beyond this. The books that he has written, whether `Monk to Mazumbo'; `Hakim, the son of Mazumbo'; or `Heroines of the Medical Field', are all records of the black experience and remind us of those who were, at the very least, positive role models, or, perhaps, even candidates for `Heroes and Heroines'.

But Mr. Philip's greatest contribution would not have been possible without his wife, Ismay, a woman with a God-given beautiful voice. It is the raising of a fine family of lawyers, a doctor and an accountant, who can go on making a positive contribution to our society for years to come.

They were not a wealthy family but they were imbued with a sense of determination, and a spirit of endurance that at least the black community would do well to emulate.

Black churches still often hold appreciation dinners for their pastors.

Recently I attended one for Franklyn Zuill, the leading elder of a very small Brethren Assembly. There were one or two hundred friends, family and fellow churchmen who paid tribute to Mr. Zuill for his commitment, consistency and dedication.

Mr. Zuill's Radio Gospel Programme reaches throughout the Caribbean and various countries in Africa. The value of his outreach is seen in the numerous letters he receives from people who do not even own a Bible, so sending Bibles and other Christian literature has become a part of that outreach.

Consistency, commitment and dedication are certainly qualities which would benefit all of us.

Finally there was the function at Ruth Seaton James Centre a few days ago.

Brownlow Adderley is not a Government official either. In fact since he and his brothers were raised in the Sunshine League he could have been defined as a youngster at risk.

But, in reality, rather than using his circumstances as an excuse to become another failed black male, he has used his circumstances as an inspiration to both succeed himself and to reach out to help other youngsters and to make a positive contribution to the community.

He has a programme which he hopes to put on the Internet. It will offer prizes to those youngsters who are challenged to learn the material which he will disseminate, or put on line. He also hopes to provide for fundays and other activities which will encourage and challenge young people.

However, he believes in presenting positive role models for young people. Thus he held an award night. During that time he presented awards to many people whom he felt had either made a contribution to the Community or were doing so presently.

He was responsible for placing a plaque commemorating Maria Benn who had done so much for the children in her area. He clearly has an appreciation for Bermudians in his community. All of these men are positive role models for young black males.

These efforts suggest that this Government should be doing something similar for both the dead and the living. If this Government were to set that kind of example, it is just possible that all Bermudians, particularly black Bermudians might begin to feel that they have some worth and to express this positive sense of self by showing respect, not only for high officials, but for all of their fellow countrymen.

We cannot turn the clock back to the old Bermuda when black people automatically gave each other some semblance of respect for a variety of reasons. I can only repeat that this Government must begin to set the example.

Minister Ewart Brown seems to have an inclination in this direction. He needs to join with fellow MP Dale Butler to make this inclination a reality. He also needs to give encouragement to a young man like Mr. Bronlow Adderley. But above all he needs to persuade his Government that they must set the example of showing respect and appreciation for their fellow Bermudians, even if it means finding the humility to show respect for those over fifty.

They need to remember, and act as if they remember, that the black struggle did not begin with their victory in November 1998.

Sacrifices were made and a price paid that they will never have to experience.

Such memories and such actions will have its own reward as those of lesser status follow their example and we return to a more civil society.