As a child I spent most of my Sunday School years between Church of God on Angle Street and St Paul’s AME on Court Street.

Every Sunday I was taught by strong Bermudian women and men such as Margurite Place, Cynthia Swan, Dale Butler and Fred Ingham. After Sunday School I attended church services presided over by pastors such as Rev Parnell Mosley and Rev Larry Lowe.

Recently I have been drawn back to listening to more services at St Paul’s because of the stance and sermons of someone who embodies John the Baptist.

Rev Nicholas Tweed has brought a message of social justice, equality and a war against poverty, political prostitution and corporate greed.

As they say on the streets: “He don’t skin up!” Translated: “He does not pull any punches!”

Like most in my 40-something generation we are seeking a way forward.

I drifted away from St Paul’s since from about the age of 18. Primarily because I could not reconcile attending an African Methodist Episcopal church and be surrounded by stained glass windows that had only pictures of a blond-haired European Jesus and his disciples.

Take it down

In the wake of the mass execution of innocent black people by a person steeped in the cultures of white privilege, white supremacy and, yes white, racism, much attention has been given to the symbolism of the Confederate flag promoted by the murdering white, racist, terrorist.

Much debate has been about what this flag truly represents and how it was used to rally racist whites during the American Civil War and again to rally racist whites during the American Civil Rights movement.

Many retail outlets have now rightfully jumped on the bandwagon and decided to stop selling this flag.

US President Barack Obama has stated that the flag belongs in a museum.

Racism is a disease that, at times, acts swiftly, as it did last week in South Carolina.

However racism, or as some like to say, institutional racism, is a long-term, chronic disease passed from generation to generation.

Racism strengthens one group while weakening another. And the mere symbolism of God himself being a white God has been used to pacify all other ethnic groups to view the white race as the more “God-like” or “superior” race.

Why is it that millions of blacks worldwide have grown up in black churches forced to praise a white God? It is all well and fine to speak about the racist oppression symbolised in that racist flag. However, we must speak about all symbols that promote white supremacy.

Why are we not discussing the fact that for hundreds of years blacks have been forced to believe that Jesus looks like a European?

That has had far more psychologically damaging effects than the Confederate flag. Yet no one wants to discuss, it address, it or act on it.

“Cause people without a vision perish like suicide; You tell me its not about colour; Still you refuse to take the picture off the wall” — Tarrus Riley.