PLease tell me what you think.

Bahamians and the Caribbean people today, are unaware of the judgement and discrimination we face in our lifetime. We move from town to city to country, from high school to college in a different state, from a job in one region to a job elsewhere, from the home where we raise our children to the home where we plan to live in retirement. With each move, we are forever being discriminated for who we really are. We often tend to feel inferior of others because of eurocentricity, slavery and lack of education.

I fervently believe that Bahamians and the Caribbean people in general, are unhappy about the way they look because of the adaptations of the European Settlers. Many years ago, our country was once colonized by Europeans, whom were then handed over to the British Colony. Continuing today, we still have straits of the Europeans perspective, for example, our country is ruled by a Queen from Britain, our schools and clinics, and our agricultural economy still thrives. Not only have our country changed, the Caribbean people as well, for example; the people are changing their physical appearance to enhance their natural beauty, by bleaching their skin to mimic the “white” skin of the Europeans and using many by-products for the hair. Malcolm X says in film, “Who Taught You To Hate Yourself?” that no one taught us to be black and because we are black, we are not to hate the texture of our hair, we are not to be displeased with our skin colour to an extent that we ‘bleach’ to get like the white men. We ought to be proud of our Afrocentricity. We must love ourselves, love our own race and should want to be around our own kind and should be grateful for who we are and how God has created us.

On the other hand; most people feel as though eurocentricity does not play a part in the way we avoid talking about race and class and that we in the Bahamas and the Caribbean believe that it is our own way of feeling beautiful, i.e. by using hair products such as perms, weaves, and many other unnatural products to have manageable hair. Bleaching of the skin can be one way of adding a tint to our skin colour, not to mimic the Europeans for we feel that we are beautiful in our own unique way. However, whether we permanently change our physical appearance for ourselves or so that we can fit in with the whites, we ought to love who we are and keep in mind that we were born for us, in our own way and that having black skin is not abominable, it is reputable.

Slavery is one of the worst conditions that existed throughout history, not only in this country, but in other countries as well. The enslavement to the group of African Indians was a horrible thing and it was long lasting. Until we here in the Bahamas and the Caribbean recognize that slavery and colonization still affects us, we will forever be lost. The slaves who were finally freed suffered a lot of psychological and emotional damage that has been passed down through generations. Although those who were enslaved many years ago are no longer here, the pain, resentment and anger is felt within the black community today. The sad part is that many believe that slavery is a thing of the past but in fact it is still alive and breathing in the hearts and minds of black people. Most people of the white race today understand that slavery was not of their doing but they must come to terms with how slavery still affects the black community. Blacks are still suffering from the after effects of slavery and white people are living in a delusion. In both cases the white race and the black race are still enslaved because this country has not truly confronted the issue of slavery. Until this is done the cycle continues and the chains of slavery remain unbroken.

On the other hand, many people feel that slavery has diminished. The mind is a powerful thing and whatever we believe ourselves to be is how we behave. Those who have been oppressed look at themselves through the mirror of the oppressor. The image is not a good one. This way of thinking is passed down from one generation to another. Therefore; if we stop telling ourselves slavery and colonization does not affect us we would live a care free life. However, in the main time, we are to opt the thoughts we want to be proactive. Those who are black, white or “in between” are to love themselves for who they are and set trends, because when others see you loving yourself the trait continues and segregation in our country would end.

In a film conducted on the Tyra Banks show, Tyra and one of her producers joined a group of little girls and asked them a few questions on their hair. It was found that merely all the girls disliked their hair because it was “thick” and ‘nappy” and they preferred it to be relaxed because it is like their friends at school (who were white). In particular, a girl in the group, thought that persons would like her better if she wear a “Hannah Montana” wig to enhance the length and texture of her hair. The girls also had an opportunity to choose from five different hair types, long and blonde, long and brown, long and braided, medium and brown and an afro. One by one they were to choose which hair they would never want to have, and ardently, they all chose the afro wig. It is heart-wrenching to know that young girls in the world today are not being taught how to love and respect themselves for who they really are and that they are beautiful just the way they are. I personally believe that if we were educated from an early age and realized that all human beings are equal and unique in their own way there would be less bleaching of the skin, less anorexia patients and damaging of the hair, they would be happier and more appreciative of the way they were created. We would respect and appreciate who are really are. In another survey conducted with another group of children; boys and girls, a conversation was held about race. The children had to opt between black and white dolls; and say whether the black or white doll were nicer, prettier, friendly and why they chose that particular doll. By a milestone, every child chose the white doll to be nicer, prettier and friendlier because of its white skin. What upsets me is that parents wonder why their children come to them asking them to change their hair colour, hair texture and other factors that help them un-identify themselves because they are not fed on the moral ethics as a young child. I blame the parents for this insanity. Children ought to be nurtured in the state of mind that every human being is equal and no matter what anyone say they are beautiful and they are made in the image and likings of God.

On the other hand; others may feel that lack of education has nothing to do with Bahamians and Caribbean people in general avoid talking about race and class because they choose to. Other reasons may be because they are related to persons in their family who are white and can adapt to their surroundings and characteristics. However, whether you are from a white family, or black, whether you feel as though whites are dominant than blacks, we should not change for no one.

Bahamians and people in the Caribbean should talk more on the pervasive topic of race and class by telling themselves that the growing generation needs to go on further without the reminiscence of the slaves. As we have seen, not only does eurocentricity, slavery and lack of education affect the adults, but the young children as well. Children should be fostered at a young age, to accept others as well as themselves, whether the class or race we can become who we want and have the same privileges as others.