This week marks the50th anniversary of Sir Etienne Dupuch’s historical anti-discrimination resolution in our country’s Parliament.  This month also marked the 39th anniversary of the attainment of Majority Rule in The Bahamas.  Despite the progress we have made as a people under the banner of “One Bahamas” and the elapse of time since these historic milestones, the matter of race and racial discriminations still looms in The Bahamas.

It is like that elusive ghost that everyone still believes exist but   dare not refer to or talks about for fear of others thinking you a bit “cuckoo”. As stated by one young lady on the topic of racism, “Most of us still ignore it, although I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.”

 My generation has lived in a Bahamas where the open and blatant displays of discrimination and racial hatred are for the most part demons of our past.   It is felt by many that the issue of race does not resonate with my generation due to our uniquely privileged experiences relative to those before us.  I have put such a belief to test over the past few weeks as I have spoken to young Bahamians of all economic classes, political affiliations, education levels and racial backgrounds to determine there “true” views on race in The Bahamas.    As biological and social products of a generation that endured the final remnants of outward racial bigotry, the views expressed are indeed telling tales.

For the most part, many of the young heirs and heiresses of our country with whom I communicated dare not touch the topic with a ten foot pole.  It was as if the topic of race is one that has been nationally agreed as taboo and how dare I approach them on such a topic.  This sentiment is summed up in the words of a 26 year old Bahamian female living in Virginia: “Beuy Edwards, I aint for that – I aint even going down that road!”  Another young lady in Nassau stopped me right away and stated, “We need to talk about this racism issue and it needs to be properly defined before we can answer any questions.”  Her comment was akin to saying that unless placed in its proper institutional context that such a conversation could be dangerous.

Others however were much more outspoken on the topic and said some of the things that perhaps their counterparts wanted and wished to say but dared not.     The responses of so many was aptly summed up by a 26-year-old employee at Kerzner International who said, “whenever the word racism is brought up in a public setting, it is highly politicized (and) treated as a national “sweep under the rug” by certain sectors of Bahamian society.”

Of those responding, the view was that we have made some progress as a country in addressing the issue of racism but that we still have a considerable ways to go.  According to one interviewee, “we still haven't gone far enough, as the topic itself is still very taboo and if you start to recount the history you’re called a racist.”

In the 21st Century Bahamas, racism with some of it s classic and traditional characteristics and traits has also taken on some new faces in the minds of our nation’s youth.  According to a 32-year-old resident of Golden Gates, “today we have become ‘Racist’, the very attitude we detested, we took on in regards to Haitians.”

Over the past few months, with the election of Brent Symonette as Deputy Leader of the FNM, the matter of race in Bahamian politics has also re-emerged as a dominate theme in our society.  It would be difficult to overlook the fact that white Bahamians, “conchy joes” and lighter skinned Bahamians are more apt to support the Free National Movement than the Progressive Liberal Party.  Undoubtedly, this is not a rule of thumb but a mere observation.  Whether this is a coincidence of our history or the product of some other factors is open to debate.  However, a review of Colin Hughes’s book “Race and History in The Bahamas” demonstrates that race has always been and for some time is likely to be a major factor in Bahamian politics.

The views of those interviewed were generally along similar lines to Mr. Hughes.  A 25-year-old, banker stated, “It always has been and probably will remain a major factor in Bahamian politics but we've made some clever manoeuvres to camouflage its most recent appearances.”

According to one young lady: “Race is a factor, especially in certain constituencies such as North Eleuthera or Long Island.”   This view was supported by a 25-year-old part time student and employee of BEC who said, “The PLP is considered to be the Black Man's party and as such would never win in Montague.”

An 18-year-old Bahaman of mixed-race parentage also responded: “There is a feeling among many Bahamians that since we have just been recently liberated from the Bay Street boys, the Bahamas is not quite ready for a white Prime Minister.”

Another young man attempted to cast blame for the role that race plays in Bahamian politics.  In his view, “This is a direct result of the U.B.P. and its practices. The U.B.P. knowingly committed major injustices against the masses in this country in terms of stunting educational and socio-economic development, which undoubtedly left a sour taste in the mouths of many.”

Perhaps even more telling was the comment of a young mixed-race Bahamian female who in referring to the possibility of a white Prime Minister stated “we are not ready for one as a people because our minds are conditioned to think Bahamians are black and therefore we should have a black Prime Minister.”  This was a view supported by a 19-year-old high school graduate and clerk at a Nassau law firm who stated that: “the Bahamian public does not seem to be comfortable with the thought of a white leader.”

There is no doubt that our young people have some very strong views on the topic of Race in The Bahamas.  Despite the view by many that the issue has been buried with my generation, the comments shared are proof that although we may camouflage or cover up this wicked ghost from our past, the demon still lives on.   In fact it is ironic that I felt it necessary is it necessary to promise interviewees that I would maintain their anonymity.  But such is the reality of race in The Bahamas.  These views shared abovein this article are only the tip of the iceberg.

In Part 2 on this topic I will provide further insight into the views of our nation’s youth and  look at ways in which my generation feels that we can rid of this phantom once and for all – if indeed that is ever possible!

Please click here for part 2
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