The Island could learn much from the presidential hopeful, Barak Obama's Race and Unity Speech, according to Rolfe Commissiong, race relations consultant to the Premier.

Obama gave his speech on March 18 this year where he called for a more perfect union citing both America's history, but also its resilience and ability for the people to band together in order to move forward.

Though America's history was stained by the blood of slaves its salvation came in its founding document — the constitution which, Obama said: "had at is very core the ideal of equal citizenship under the law; a Constitution that promised its people liberty, and justice, and a union that could be and should be perfected over time."

It's this struggle to work with the past and move into the future is what Bermuda needs to do, according Mr. Commissiong.

He said: "What he was conveying there was that the systemic and historical divide or divides that existed between blacks and whites have their roots in a system or society.

"A system that relegated non-whites to a position of inferiority up until the 60s or 70s. That's a key reason why were are grappling with this legacy and it's effects today."

Obama continues in his speech to say that the main reason he is running as a candidate is because the challenges to be a "more equal, more free, more caring and more prosperous America" needed to be tackled as a union.

He then dismisses the "divisive" comments made by Reverend Jeremiah Wright saying he used "incendiary language" that only caused to widen the racial divide.

Asked what he thought about Obama's distancing himself from these comments, Mr. Commissiong replied that he had not attacked Rev. Wright, only his comments.

And for the Big Conversation sometimes whites would have to be taken out of their comfort zone to understand where the black community was coming from.

He added: "How can you have a conversation when people are in there comfort zones? The majority of blacks have validated the approach of the conversation to address race relations."

On April 11, white Bermudians are invited to the Bermuda College for the next installment of the Big Conversation, which will be mediated by Mike Winfield.

Following that, on April 18, a panel discussion will be held to tackle the issue of colour blindness and Mr. Commissiong encouraged all Bermudians to take part.