A leading black culture researcher yesterday called on those protecting their heritage to do so seriously — or not do it at all.

Howard Dodson said a concerted effort was needed to redress the balance after many years of colonialism in which whites have let history be misrepresented in a way that suits themselves.

Dr. Dodson pointed to examples of black heritage — such as slaves' burial grounds — which have only been uncovered by chance during his career as a historian at New York Public Library.

And he said it was vital for projects such as the African Diaspora Heritage Trail to adopt the same vigour as whites who honoured their heritage through museums and monuments of white leaders.

Describing heritage preserved by whites, Dr. Dodson told an audience at Fairmont Southampton: "Every one of those things was a part of larger colonial enterprise. What was its intent? . . . to place Europeans in reverence; to place physical monuments of their greatness.

"It's not just a piece of art — it's an expression of power.

"The Europeans have already put their opinions of European greatness in your space. It's there; it's glorious.

"You decide you want to create a museum or a monument but you don't invest enough in it to make it comparable in size or expression of power to that that's already there, and you are placing a monument that confirms you are inferior.

"You bring people from around the world to share with you your opinion of inferiority.

"If we are going to do this stuff, we can do it seriously or we are better off not doing it at all. When the Europeans do it, they are saying: 'We are the best.' Every project you have has to start with the same assumption: this is the best we have to offer."

Dr. Dodson also warned of people to be wary of their own contradictions, adding: "How much truth can you risk telling?"

Expanding, he urged against taking a view of the world that: "Black people are all right and correct and that white people are all incorrect; black people have truth and white people have lies."

Dr. Dodson was speaking on the second day of the fourth International African Diaspora Heritage Trail Conference, which aims to develop tourist destinations telling the history of Africans and slavery.

Progressive Labour Party Senator Walton Brown, a researcher who was at yesterday's event, told The Royal Gazette that elements of colonial heritage which remained in modern day Bermuda included traditions such as the Governor reading the Throne Speech, and the Regiment's colonial connections.

"We need to invent traditions that help develop a social harmony," said Sen. Brown. "The more we can invest in traditions that relate to our past, the stronger we will become."

Sen. Brown said overlooked elements of Bermuda's history included family histories, economic history, and the Island's multitude of churches and their possible links to the slavery era.

Karen Spellman, of Washington, a co-director of the Trail, told this newspaper of the significance of the project: "A people without their history is like a tree without its roots."

She also praised Bermuda's David Allen-inspired heritage trail as the first of its kind in the world.