A letter I did not write

– October 27–Dear Sir,

I am extremely surprised that Matthew Taylor should attribute to me a letter which I did not write (R.G. Saturday, Oct.27)

On the contrary, I believe that for decades (or centuries), not "suddenly", all people in this country, black and white have looked at the colour of one's skin and immediately made assumptions.

The assumption, at least since 1774, has been that Blacks were inferior. As a consequence they have been segregated, exploited and denied every possible economic opportunity in order to prove that they were, indeed, inferior.

Blacks, as a result over the decades, have questioned their own capabilities, not because they were incapable but because the widespread doctrine of their inferiority and their exclusion from the prosperity of the country convinced them that they were.

So if, today, any black person is promoted and paid accordingly, even if only as a token, that in my opinion would be a very small gesture of justice for the past (and sometimes for the present).

I have not distanced myself from the Bill, because I believe that the current PLP administration is doing far too little to address the tremendous economic and psychological disparity inflicted on the black community as a result of this Country's acceptance of the widespread and deeply entrenched ideology of Black inferiority which imposed segregation, or separation of the races, in every detail of our lives because we were too inferior to associate with Whites.

For centuries every Institution, the Legal system by lawyers and politicians, propoganda and theories by scholars and philosophers in the Universities, sermons by priests and ministers from the pulpits of Churches, distortions and fables from the Press and every influential voice, including Educators and poets incessently drummed out the concept of an entire people being inferior, year after year, generation after generation.

This poison was also deliberately and plentifully administered to Blacks themselves from childhood to the cementery. It is no wonder that former black Premiers from Sir John Swan to Alex Scott were so intimidated by white opinion and wealth that they would not even raise the issue of this dastarly evil doctrine of black inferiority for under no circumstances must they trouble white people. Whether justice was ever done to black people or not no white person should be made to feel uncomfortable or displaced.

Yet their silent and submissive complicity did nothing to bring the races together. The white Community continued to completely ignore the black Community and their numerous protests, unless there was a boycott, strike or riot because they were unwilling to accept Blacks as fellow human beings.

At least, today, Whites are paying attention to us even if only to express their anger and hostility and to pretend that they care about Dr. Brown's devisiveness when it was they who did the dividing.

They are angry because he is not behaving like a black subordinate should behave by continuing to ignore the racial divide which is the expression of the conviction of black inferiority and lack of ability and deserving of only the lower inferior roles, no matter how highly educated.

No wonder so many Whites are so hostile to Dr Brown. At least they cannot disrespect him any more than they did Sir John Swan who was so accommodating to them.

Perhaps that is Bermuda's tragedy. Sir John Swan represented the white Community but was very well liked by the black Community. He might have tried to build bridges between the races and then we would not have needed Dr. Ewart Brown! But he chose to maintain and accommodate the racial divide with all of its implications and consequences.

Even today there is no real effort to counteract the doctrine because so many Whites and too many Blacks still believe it to be true. There is only these feeble and sporadic attempts which arouse such deep hostility and anger on the part of Whites who see them as impudence on the part of inferiors.

EVA N. HODGSON

Drive with more care

October 27

Dear Sir,

With interest and bewilderment I read the article in your paper regarding the 'accident' involving Correia Construction tractor trailers on Crow Lane. Mrs. Correia's synopsis of the cause of the accident is what left me bewildered. She stated that the accident happened because a motorist disobeyed her company's escort vehicle's signals.

Is Mrs. Correia of the mistaken belief that motorists are obliged by law to obey the signals of her or any other construction companies so called escort vehicles? These private vehicles are not police vehicles despite having flashing white or yellow lights.

A scan of the Traffic Code would offer suitable advice such as travelling at a speed that is safe – especially when you are driving a heavy tractor-trailer.

The accident involving Correia Construction should highlight the need for Police escorts of large vehicles. It should also highlight the need for the drivers of these vehicles to drive with much more care and respect for other road users.

The mistaken belief that these vehicles have any special right of way over other road users should be firmly removed. Perhaps if the management of the company was aware of this, it would filter down to the drivers and we would all benefit from safer driving!

GARGAMEL

Hamilton