THE CONCEPT of superiority of one race having certain qualities over another race is the bedrock of racism.
It has been used to subjugate, dominate, exploit and suppress other races.
The practice of racism blights those who practice this form of discrimination and retards the victims who suffer at its hands. This has been the practice and spirit of slavery. This mindset has passed down through history among Whites in Barbados and racism is still alive and well 176 years after the abolition of chattel slavery.
It is amazing how Blacks still cower to Whites, how they genuflect. Many still refer to a woman of Caucasian origin as a “white lady” or a man as “a white gentleman”. In a visit to a top hotel, I was served in the usual assembly line manner, but the Caucasian man behind me was greeted by a “Good Morning, Sir! How may I help you?”. Not that I wanted this, but the whole idea of the standardisation of service.
The recent incident with the missing white woman illustrated how Whites treat and value their kith and kin. On learning of her going missing most Blacks feared the worst, bearing in mind the violent criminal acts of recent times.
The speed with which the Whites, and the police in this instance, were galvanised into action was alarming. Not only were there search parties from a wide cross section of white Barbadians, the search stretched for miles, with canines, vehicles – some luxury – the use technology, drones even, involved.
The whole practice of white networking is a practice lacking among us Blacks who are divided by all sorts of prejudices, the chief being class. The reality is that racism still exists in Barbados. It is alive and well. We hardly mix, except on the job. How many mixed marriages are there? Do we see them at social gatherings?
We are witnessing a resurgence of this white elitism, don’t care how much we Blacks, blinded by class, may want to feel. True it is that they comprise about three per cent of the population, but there is hardly any integration.
Young generations need to work on this segregation if Barbados is to progress. The whole idea of development, economic, social and national consciousness hinges on racial equality.
– CHARLES HOLDER
