A lot of apologies needed

April 15, 2009

Dear Sir,

As shown by the Big Conversation and recent newspaper articles there is much discussion surrounding race relations, the history of racism and its impact on today's society. This dialogue is very important and still relevant, but I feel a discussion is needed within the black community that also focuses on personal responsibility and self-determination.

On October 16, 1996 I proudly stood among one million black men who gathered in Washington DC for the Million Man March. Minister Louis Farrakhan and other leaders that day could have solely focused on the great injustices and brutality inflicted upon the black race by whites; however, it was a day where black men were called upon to stand up and be better husbands, sons, brothers, community members, and fathers. This is why the March was also known as the Day of Atonement. The principles of the March apply to Bermuda as well.

Who is more likely to take the life of another black man in the US or Bermuda? Sadly, the answer is another black man. Don't tell me this is because the slave master conditioned the black man to destroy himself. Any black man who has knowledge of himself and knowledge of his ancestors won't fall for any modern-day trap that seeks to bring about the destruction or oppression of the black race. The Black Panthers once called upon black people to become the "masters of their own destiny". We should confront and continue to fight racism wherever it exists, but we should also confront those things that are self-destructive within our race. We as black people can't become so obsessed with searching for what white person has a white hood (reference to the Ku Klux Klan in the US) hidden in their closet when we are content to quietly and blindly walk past young black men wearing blue or red rags on their heads (reference to gang affiliations).

Some of us will become understandably enraged over any perception of a racist message in a white-owned media outlet, yet many blacks willingly absorb the despicable images and messages of self-degredation conveyed in the songs and music videos by some of today's black music artists in the US. The image of a young black hip hop artist with thousands of dollars of jewellery in his mouth, profane tattoos covering his body, spewing an unintelligible chorus of profanity with his pants sagging below his bottom is a more negative and destructive image than the racist "Sambo" caricature of years gone by. The latter image, while cruel and racist, was less dangerous because it was not adored and idolised by countless numbers of young black fans in Bermuda and the US.

Malcolm X, the Black Panthers and the rap group Public Enemy (each of whom gave a voice to a younger and more militant generation of blacks) called out black gangsters and drug dealers as quick as they called out racist politicians and police officers. Within their fight against racism, they never ignored the need for personal responsibility and self-determination from within their race.

If a black man in 2009 was assaulted by a group of whites in a mostly white neighbourhood, what would be the response by those of us of African descent? Most likely, the response would be outrage. However, look at the passivity and general acceptance of black on black violence within the black community. When we read the headlines about a group of young black men assaulting one another with bats, helmets and/or machetes; many of us of African descent are upset for a brief period of time or we accept the violence as how things are.

Today, more of us march over pay disputes than those who show up for candlelight vigils or rallies to stop the senseless violence. There are many things that we can blame on racism, but a mind state of apathy and lack of social consciousness from the black community cannot be blamed on racism in 2009. Did our ancestors endure torture, oppression, and tyranny for us to accept the current state of violence and other social ills affecting our community?

There have been recent discussions about whites apologising to blacks for the long history of racial oppression. The call for apologies may need to also come from within the black community. Some of us may need to apologise to our ancestors and to our race. An apology is needed from any black drug dealer who sold poison in the community. An apology is needed from any black man who willingly walked away from his responsibility as a father. An apology is needed from all of the black hip hop artists and record producers who made millions of dollars by degrading black women and glorifying violence, materialism, liquor, and drug dealing all in the name of supposedly "representing the hood" and "keeping it real".

An apology is also needed from those of us who helped make these people rich. Any black person who took the life in cold blood of an innocent black person needs to apologise to the black race and the families whose lives he/she has forever altered. Black businessmen who have swindled and stole money from the church and community need to apologise.

There are a lot of people who can start apologising, but whether or not some people (black or white) choose to apologise is not even the issue at hand. What is more important to me is that the younger generations are held accountable for upholding the memories and sacrifices of their forefathers who persevered under the most unimaginable racial oppression. The blood, sweat and tears of our ancestors demands that we continue to fight racism and injustice, but we must also be a people of self-determination and personal responsibility.

KEVIN GRIGSBY

Warwick

Friendly, competent, caring

April 13, 2009

Dear Sir,

On Good Friday, rather than flying my kite as all good Bermudians should, I was assisting my family to trim back some of the jungle in and around my garden. Unfortunately I was downwind of the saw and, to make a long story short, the sawdust flew into my eye, despite my oversized sunglasses, causing extreme discomfort. After trying to wash out my eye without success, my daughter announced that she was taking me to the hospital to have it checked. And so we set off for the dreaded journey, knowing that it would be many, many hours before we returned home. It was definitely not the way we had intended to spend our Good Friday.

Being a resident of St. David's and having watched the new Urgent Care Centre being built, we decided to drive by on the off chance that it just might be open. We knew the opening had been promised for April, but I am sure you will understand, Mr. Editor, when I say that I had no expectation that the Centre would actually be ready to receive patients before midsummer. We were thrilled, therefore, to find it was indeed open – spic and span – everything brand new – purpose built – and fully functional.

Being the only patient there, I had the undivided attention of a receptionist, two nurses and a doctor. In no time, my eye had been checked, cleaned and patched and I was home again barely half an hour after I left. Everybody at the Centre was friendly, competent and caring …even the Lady Security Guard who greeted us so cheerfully.

I subsequently learned that the Urgent Care Centre at Southside had actually had its "soft" opening on April 1, and the Official Opening was scheduled for mid-April. I now appreciate even more that I had a stellar experience that is unlikely to be repeated, because once the East End community learns about the Urgent Care Centre, it will be inundated with patients and I will have to fight for attention if … when … I next have a need to go there.

I have to say that this is one project that the Government got right. It was built as promised and opened on schedule (maybe even on budget …?). Having lived at the East End all my life, I cannot tell you how grateful I am that we no longer have to worry about being cut off from the hospital when the Causeway is out of action, especially now that I am officially a senior citizen … did I just say that? Living three minutes away from the Centre makes life in St. David's even better than ever.

So, thank you Government for getting the job done and heartfelt thanks to Dr. Ferris, the nurses and the receptionist who all treated my (thank goodness) superficial injury as a matter of priority on a gorgeous Good Friday afternoon when they probably would have much preferred to be outside in the sunshine.

CLW

St. David's