Applauding The Royal Gazette's Focus on Racism series, Human Affairs Minister Jerome Dill says it is vital that the more personal aspects of racism be addressed.

Referring specifically to the section devoted to inter-racial marriage in Bermuda, Mr. Dill said that, "given our history'', he was not altogether surprised to hear that there had been a certain reluctance by most couples to be interviewed.

"For far too long, we have simply not discussed issues of this nature and, because things like mixed marriages have never been discussed, there seemed to be a feeling that there was no issue. That, I think, was a bad thing. I can understand that, for some people, this was an uncomfortable thing to talk about, but I believe that's only because people are just not used to discussing things like that. This series has been a step in the right direction, and I'm looking forward to the day, when children are no more disturbed by being asked about their race, than they are about their gender.'' He says he is gratified that some couples had made the decision to talk about their experiences. "Gradually, but more and more, people are starting to speak out on these kinds of issues, and that can only be a good thing. I know that it can be difficult, because living in a small place like Bermuda is rather like living in a goldfish bowl!'' Noting that he has been concerned about racial issues ever since he went away to college, Mr. Dill feels that today, we are to a certain extent, paying the price for the lack of openness on race relations which has persisted ever since desegregation in 1959.

"Once we got away from really offensive things, like segregated schools and restaurants and adverts which said `Blacks need not apply', there was the feeling that the whole issue had been dealt with. That was disastrous, because we may have done away with desegregation, but we only dealt with the tip of the iceberg -- certainly not things like mixed marriages.'' He is encouraged, he says, by the fact that once the series began, those interviewed seemed at ease in talking honestly about the issues involved.

When The Royal Gazette decided to run its series on mixed race marriages, more than 30 couples were initially approached.

One of the perhaps surprising facts to emerge, is the number of marriages that have taken place between Bermudians of mixed race. Most inter-racial marriages here are one-sided in that one partner is Bermudian and the other, a foreigner. Marriages where both partners are Bermudian -- a situation almost unheard of even two decades ago -- does, however, appear to be slightly on the increase. Out of 11 such couples contacted, ten declined to be interviewed and the other couple could not be reached.

Official statistics are hard to come by, as it is against the law -- and has been since the 1960s, to state particulars of race on Bermuda's marriage certificates.

Noting that the next census is due to take place in the year 2000, Social statistician Ms Melinda Williams confirms that this question was not specifically asked on the last census, held a year late, in 1991. "I believe that, for information purposes, several issues like this may need to be amended for the next census.'' One of the problems, she says, is that while people may be married, it does not necessarily follow that they are living with their spouse on the actual census day. "I believe it might be good to have more facts on inter-racial marriage and mixed race children. As a community, we need to understand these things -- ignoring an issue doesn't help it to go away.'' The apparent overall increase in mixed marriages is shown in the 1991 census (see graph), where the total of `mixed' children under the age of four (325), was almost double that of children in the 10-14 age group. This trend would appear to be confirmed by the Bermuda High School for Girls where, it was pointed out recently, 22 percent of their pupils are the children of mixed race unions. This relatively rapid increase occurs mainly in the lower Primary classes.

Alluding to a complaint apparently voiced by many people on the fact that there is presently no provision for `Mixed Race' on birth certificates, Ms Williams confirms, "The only information we are able to collect on birth certificates, is whether a child is black or white.'' Couples wary of family reactions At first, it seemed that The Royal Gazette would be lucky to find any couples at all who were willing to `go on record' with their personal experiences.

Some left us in no doubt that they felt any interview of this nature was an intrusion of privacy. In some cases, one partner was willing to talk, but the other was not. In just about every instance, it was the husband who adamantly refused to take part.

Most, however, said that while they had no personal objections to being interviewed, they were fearful, or at least, wary, of family reactions -- "I wouldn't want to upset my aunty,'' or "I wouldn't want to say publicly that my mother was dead set against the whole thing -- even though she was, for the longest time,'' or, as one white man (married to a black Bermudian woman for several years now) remarked: "Her family have never really forgiven her, and they have so far refused to meet me.'' One black Bermudian male who did not wish to be named, explained, "My wife's family (in Canada) were not really happy about it. Things are better now, but I have a feeling it's more of a truce, than a reconciliation. I wouldn't want to jeopardise what may be a shaky sort of peace.'' As Mr. Joseph Simmons, our first interviewee said, "You have to remember that for a lot of people, a healing process might have started between families, and if they start bringing up old antagonisms and conflicting emotions, you are in danger of opening it up all over again.'' After the interview with Mr. Simmons and his wife, Susan, more people came forward and said they would be willing to talk to The Royal Gazette .

In an effort to reach as large a cross-section of the community as possible -- mixed marriages would appear to be especially prevalent amongst the Bermuda Police Service and the Bermuda Fire Department -- only a fraction of those who were willing to talk, could eventually be interviewed. Two couples who, in the end, were not interviewed, both said that it would be "almost a relief'' to talk about the experiences and reactions they have had.

The overwhelming message to emerge during this series was that, without exception, every couple we spoke to (whether or not their story appeared in the paper) claimed that their marriages were happy. In some instances, there was an almost palpable air of sadness over any implied or direct criticism from the greater community. As Bermuda Police officer, Sgt. John Dale said of his 14-year old marriage to Betty, "It's the person who is racist who has the problem -- not us!'' Mr. Dill concedes that this particular aspect of race relations can be a difficult issue to discuss in a truthful and constructive manner. "I do think that in the fullness of time, talking about things like this will become less of an ordeal -- but this is something that is going to take our sustained attention. The Government, the public domain in general, and the Press in particular, has a vitally important role to play. The Press is a powerful medium and I think there is an obligation to deal with the issues that affect the social fabric of our community. I really do believe that The Royal Gazette has performed a very useful service with the entire series.''