The news of the visit next week by Nation of Islam Leader Louis Farrakhan probably drew a mixed reaction from Bermudians.

There are those who have always believed in the Minister and there are those who think of him as a divisive force, as an advocate of racial conflict.

I would like to highlight what one of the organisers, Mr. Eugene Dean, said in a Royal Gazette report last Wednesday. I quote: "He (Farrakhan) has evolved and his message is really about unification.

"At this time in Bermuda when our racial divide has grown and the negative social behaviour is constantly increasing, we need to come together in support of positive change."

Mr. Dean goes on to say that the racial divide has been polarised and we have started to move backwards and this scenario needs to be quickly arrested.

Mr. Dean, hats off to you and the other organisers Mr. Fanon Khaldun, Mr. Glad Simmons and Mr. Gavin Smith for your initiative and concern for our community.

It has been my privilege to work with the Emperial Group of Companies over the past few years, and I have grown increasingly impressed with their uniquely inclusive approach to "unity in the community" and "fighting with peace" to bridge the gaps in our society.

I think we need to publicly acknowledge the Emperial Group's spirit of partnership in Bermuda – manifest at most of our public events, at which they provide technical sound support.

They have fostered a community-wide spirit of understanding that enables us to refocus on the all-important work of living our lives in a manner that moves our island forward. We need to use their initiative to free up alternative sources of human energy that can help build a better Bermuda. This approach is not complicated. It requires a positive attitude, a can-do spirit and a willingness to reach out and appreciate the people around you! Getting to this better frame of mind starts with the important understanding that all of us are in this place together, let's reach out to one another in a respectful and understanding manner.

We are too small to allow division to fester. We must join hands together and our actions must be guided by the spirit of fair play and respect.

At the Million Man March in 1995, Minister Farrakhan empowered hundreds of thousands of black men of all denominations to "atone" for their respective misdeeds and to take responsibility for their actions.

In 1998, Bermudians challenged each other to embrace this message and allowed the Honourable Minister to visit the island where he spoke to a crowd of thousands about the looming perils of war, xenophobia and intolerance between the West and the Middle East.

Now, more than a decade later, we can all acknowledge that his words may have had merit – both for better and for worse.

We have witnessed unparalleled upheaval in the global economy and the escalation of conflict in Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan.

But we also have an African-American President in the White House who is universally celebrated as a symbol of hope and change.

We also have the testimony of the promoters of this event themselves, all of whom were inspired by Farrakhan's atonement message to come together in a non-partisan manner to address the hard core challenges of social violence and civil unrest that threatens to unravel the social fabric of our community.

While there are many, especially in the white community, who view Minister Farrakhan as a very divisive force, I for one am very interested to hear his message on peace and unity between the races. I am also interested to see how Bermudians respond to his leadership.

Will those thousands who lobbied the UBP in 1998 to reverse the travel ban now assemble in similar numbers for a message that promises to be less confrontational?

Will those thousands who are concerned about the Progressive Labour Party's present style of government be prepared to be part of an event that aims to bring the community back together?

I for one am willing to "look at the man in the mirror, I'm asking him to make a change".

While we remember the struggles of the past and those that sacrificed and persevered for freedom, equality and justice, we must focus on continuing to build on that foundation, but we must also turn back the tide of polarisation that some foster in our community, a tide that eats at the foundation slowly built by our forefathers.

I eagerly await the visit of Minister Farrakhan to Bermuda and his efforts to help heal our community.

I ask all Bermudians to open our minds and seek the peace and unity that our young people are now forging under the umbrella of the Emperial Group of Companies.