Black History Month

It's Black History Month again. Established in 1926 by Harvard scholar Dr. Carter G Woodson the event is celebrated in the US - and Bermuda - every February.

I have to admit, I find it slightly puzzling that what seems to be mainly a celebration of African-American history should be observed here. Even though Bermuda uses the event as an opportunity to recognise the achievements of black Bermudians, this seems odd in a country where blacks are the majority and have political power. Shouldn't that be enough to ensure these are celebrated throughout the year? To me, it seems to make as much sense for Bermuda to have a Black History Month as it would for the UK to have a White History Month.

Not everyone agrees, of course. Writing in the Bermuda Sun last Wednesday, Tom Vesey had this to say:

“One day, when blacks have taken their rightful place in society, and in the history books, we won’t need Black History Month. But that day is a long way off… There’s a lot of work to be done – in both the way we run our world and the way we record its happenings – before that day arrives.”

In the US, I would agree with his assessment. But Bermuda is not the United States. Blacks comprise around 13% of the population of the US but 63% of the population here. There has never been a black US President; there have been several black Bermudian Premiers. The social studies curriculum taught in Bermuda's public schools is full of Bermudian, Caribbean, African and African-American history (though admittedly the same is not true of the private schools). The local media may be predominantly white-owned, but there is no shortage of black columnists writing for the newspapers who have the opportunity to commemorate black achievements every week of the year. Moreover, how much sense does it make to talk of black Bermudian history and white Bermudian history when the lives of the two communities are so closely intertwined? Surely all history here is simply Bermudian?

A black educator with whom I was speaking recently made a similar point. One of her concerns was that black Bermudians may identify too closely with the African-American experience because most of the TV they watch is American. In particular, she was concerned that the some of the negative stereotypes of blacks on American TV have led to a minority mindset among blacks here.

I wonder if observing Black History Month in Bermuda only strengthens that mindset and makes it harder for Bermudians to recognise that the celebration of black history here need know no such constraints.

Comments

[Onion on 16.02.05 at 09:42]

Limey, I agree with you wholeheartedly.

I have always been against having a "black history month" in Bermuda. The very concept of it implies minority status. We are in the majority. But more importantly it perpetuates divisions.

A little white boy at Saltus should be just as proud to claim Dr. E.F. Gordon as a part of his culture as a little black boy at Berkely should be proud to call Sir Henry Tucker a part of his culture.

Also, if we have gained associate mebership in Caricom it seems kind of regressive to keep this "black history month". You would NEVER have such a thing in St. Kitts, Trinidad, Barbados or Jamaica. In Jamaica, where the motto is "out of many, one people", ALL children (Chinese Jamaican, Lebonese, Jamaican, white Jamaican, Indian Jamaican, black Jamaican and everything in between) must learn who their national heroes are at school. This would include everyone from Marcus Garvey (black Jamaican) to Bustamante (white Jamaican). And EVERYONE is proud to claim each of these persons as their national hero. The same thing in Trinidad. I know that every white Trinidadian is proud to claim Sparrow and Brian Lara as part of their heritage just as much as a black Trini.

The problem in Bermuda is that the little white boy at school switches off when he hears the program on the radio or tv talking about black history. "Ok, this does not concern me. Cup Match heroes, gombeys, calypso singers, union stuff - all black people things."

Equally, the black kid thinks that only sailing is for white kids (despite the fact that blacks were some of the best sailers and ship builders in the world during the 1700s and 1800s).

We need to stop trying to copy this black American mentality. No disrespect to those promoting the ASHA program, but as an African wrote in a letter to the editor yesterday, ASHA is not African. It is an American version of what some blacks Americans THINK is African. We need to know the difference. I don't know why some of us blacks in Bermuda don't realise that we came from Africa just like the blacks in America did. We do not need to discover OUR culture through them!!! They are no blacker than us.

I have to ask, if black history month is only for one month I guess the other eleven months are white history month? I believe we should call it Bermuda Culture Month. Put an emphasis on those black historical figures who never got any air time in our school curriculumn. Fill in those gaps of black history that were never taught. But the name must change and I think we will start to see a difference.

[jake on 16.02.05 at 10:10]

I am in favor of Bermudian History Month replacing Black History Month.

I would also like to see Emancipation Day celebrated more. I envision it as an opportunity to celebrate our unity, as it exists, and to build on it more. Emancipation should stand more for freedom as a concept and not as a vilification of white people or white Bermudians.

We are not so far away from being able to do both these things. We should talk about it more.

[Point on 16.02.05 at 10:22]

Onion & Jake

You have my complete support & agreement.

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 16.02.05 at 10:30]

Onion & Jake,

I agree wholeheartedly Bermuda was built on the backs of both blacks and whites and rather than focus on our differences we need to highlight and focus on the success that we as a country have made.

[Onion on 16.02.05 at 10:31]

You see, we can all be on the same page!

[Islandboy on 16.02.05 at 11:01]

I agree with Onion, I think the (over)exposure we get from the States drives an unnecessary wedge between whites & blacks with regard to Bermuda race relations. We share a closer bond/history/community/island identity than most multi-racial communities in the USA. (At least that is the way I see it.) So why emulate their product? Moreover, why would Black Bermudians ever want embrace that minority midset African-Americans endure? Bermuda History Month all the way, let's celebrate our unique heritage, not someone elses.

[Smiths on 16.02.05 at 11:16]

When is gay history month?

[ruby tuesday on 16.02.05 at 11:37]

I think the Black community's problem homophobia has postponed that. Until 2075.

[Onion on 16.02.05 at 11:54]

Ruby, so the white community has no problem with homosexuality??

[Fornicator on 16.02.05 at 11:55]

We've already got a Bermuda History month that culminates in the 24th of May Bermuda Day marathon and parade. Can anyone explain why white participation is so low during the parade? Just wondering why it's such a segregated event.

[Eve on 16.02.05 at 11:57]

I can't believe there are still those in Bermuda that blame racial problems on negative African-American sterotypes on American TV. Wake-up this is 2005 if anything, African-American's are shown in a very positive way on TV. This is like the banana problem in Columbus, Georgeia. Bill Cosby is trying to get African-Americans to act like responsible citizens. It's time Bermuda quit blaming the rest of the world for their problems and got down to solving them at home.

[ruby tuesday on 16.02.05 at 12:03]

Bingo!

Onion - this isn't a pissing contest to see who can display the most unpleasant forms of bigotry.

My point was that within Black popular culture there are far more entrenched strains of homophobia than you tend to see in cultural movements that are more anglo saxon in their origin. Before the knee jerkers amongst start frothing at the mouth I'm sure there are bigoted country singers in Nashville - its just they probably wouldn't release a song that calls for gays to be burned alive or for that matter be invited without murmur to Bermuda like Beenie Man?

[Onion on 16.02.05 at 12:09]

Ruby, ok thanks for this information.

Now let's get back to the original thread where we were all just making good progress.

[shipstones on 16.02.05 at 12:20]

Onion & Jake agree with you completely.
Ruby, remember M&M and their homophobia!
I believe Cup Match shows how we can all celebrate together. I don't go anymore because I can't sit in the heat all day ant the crown and anchor is terrible odds!

[Fornicator on 16.02.05 at 12:23]

Ruby,

Beenie Man is a single artist who made a single song. And in popular culture, especially reggae, I'd bet that a majority of people who might have liked that single song didn't even know the words for it. Now compare that to the USA. That country voted in an openly homophobic President and is supported by an "at least equally zealous" homophobic religious voter base. Comparing the likes of Beanie Man to the US presidential election is farcical in terms of international impact, culture and values.

I'll agree that some blacks in Bermuda are more openly vocal about homosexuality, but I sincerely doubt that you'd have that huge a difference in views if they were taken behind the curtain of poll booth.

[Pitts Bay on 16.02.05 at 12:54]

At last! We finally have a topic that we all appear to agree on. We should be proud of who we are. We should celebrate our Bermudian heros, be they black, white, green, blue or pink.

I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments posted here.

If we can agree on these sorts of fundamental issues (being proud of who we are - and acknowledging it), much of the petty bickering on these pages seem insignificant.

[jake on 16.02.05 at 12:56]

Ruby,

So now blacks are the source of homophobia in Bermuda? I am black and not homophobic, so how is it that blacks as a group get the burn on this?

You need to examine your own perceptions about the black community I think. We are not an all singing hand holding band. We don't all vote PLP, nor do we all go to Church (and yes, I try to go to Church too).

You are very arrogant to think you understand your countrymen when you can blame all in the black community for homophobia. It suggests to me that you are very self righteous about your own race. Are there no homophobes in the white community in Bermuda? If you believe that, then you know neither blacks nor whites.

How sad that comment was.

[The Limey on 16.02.05 at 13:02]

I'd prefer it if this thread did not turn into a debate about homophobia. If you want to argue about that stuff, please do so here.

In today's Bermuda Sun (page 38) there's an opinion piece by Stuart Hayward on Black History Month. Like Tom Vesey, he's in favour of the idea. Any comments on what he has to say?

[shipstones on 16.02.05 at 15:16]

I did not know who invented the golf tee or the ironing board! Damn I'm ignorant! They didn't teach that at school! Do you think that was a racist bias? You may think me ignorant also because I don't care who invented what! It certainly doesn't alter my opinion that blacks and whites are equal and both contribute plenty to society!

[Fornicator on 16.02.05 at 15:31]

Looking back at the Ideological Indoctrination thread, it is clear that many people completely disagree with the basis of Hayward's discussion. There simply is no real need for a black history month because (as claimed) the classrooms, television, books, newspapers, etc. do not favour whites. Actually, if you believe that society does not place greater importance on whites, you would have a legitimate grievance against black history month's over-emphasis on blacks. You'd actually have a brilliant case for having a white history month, or eliminating black history month, and no one could challenge the notion.

So we are back to square one - asking ourselves if there is anything to correct in the first place, and wondering how many people are willing to support a change to the curriculum to make the concept of black history month redundant. And the real ugly twist is that "the system" also has blacks thinking less of black people too. If you are going to get society to value the contributions of non-whites, you've got to get non-whites to buy into changing the education curriculum, television, newspapers, etc. also. My first reaction is to throw the thumbs down to BHM, but maybe a month is a necessary step to shift the paradigm.

[ace on 16.02.05 at 15:31]

I have no idea how homophobia made it into this thread...really.

The rest of it I fully support.

Nice to see we have some common ground on this board now and then.

[Onion on 16.02.05 at 15:37]

I read Vesey's and Hayward's comments. But I disagree with them. You can celebrate all those black historical figures without calling it BHM for the reasons I (we) gave above.

[Fornicator on 16.02.05 at 15:50]

After reading the columns I don't think the point is the label we place on it. The case they are making is that there is a need to emphasise the contribution of blacks at a certain time of the year. You can call it Cahow Month if you want. The question is why is there a need to emphasise black history in a single month, especially in a place like Bermuda? If blacks are given their fare share of attention throughout the year, there is no way that you could support BHM, Cahow Month or whatever you want to call it - Wouldn't it then be redundant to Bermuda Day?

[Fornicator on 16.02.05 at 16:09]

May is Heritage Month. Why do we need a black history month when we already have heritage month?

[akinola on 16.02.05 at 17:13]

In the chain of command, Africa is the leader of the black race Black America second and the small islands third. This is the reason for the push for Africa history month.

[loki on 16.02.05 at 17:33]

"In the chain of command, Africa is the leader of the black race Black America second and the small islands third. This is the reason for the push for Africa history month."

Please, somebody tell me we have a wind-up merchant on our hands. Ali G, is that you?

[The Limey on 16.02.05 at 17:41]

Fornicator - I'm guessing here, but one of the reasons white participation may be low in the Bermuda Day Parade is that it's also the start of the Bermuda fitted dinghy racing season. As a result, many people who own boats (who tend to be the wealthy, who tend to be white?) are out on them, either to watch the races and/or for their first swim of the year.

[Martin on 16.02.05 at 17:47]

Without getting into a debate about racism etc, can someone explain to me how we determine Tom Vesey's point, i.e. "When blacks have taken their rightful place in society".

Particularly within the context of Bermuda?

[Fornicator on 16.02.05 at 18:03]

"Fornicator - I'm guessing here, but one of the reasons white participation may be low in the Bermuda Day Parade is that it's also the start of the Bermuda fitted dinghy racing season. As a result, many people who own boats (who tend to be the wealthy, who tend to be white?) are out on them, either to watch the races and/or for their first swim of the year."

I agree - If I had a boat I would be on it too, and when I was young that was the first day of my swim. But I don't think that explains the very low level of participation amongst the floats and spectators. This is heritage month, and the 24th is the heritage day parade. Why isn't this an even remotely integrated event?

[shipstones on 16.02.05 at 19:20]

I think basically the people that don't go to the parade think that it is fucking boring!
May be a gay and lesbian parade would bring the crowds out!
I watch the half marathon and cheer everyone that goes past and don't find that boring. Where I sit there are blacks and whites. I think its the same all along the route. Every year I say to myself I am going to do that next year and I never do.
Anybody see Lou Rowles (spelling?) on Saturday? It was great! Very mixed crowd Fornicator!

[Fornicator on 16.02.05 at 19:46]

"I think basically the people that don't go to the parade think that it is fucking boring!"

Okay then, why would whites find it "fucking boring" while blacks, portuguese, philipinos and indians, find it interesting enough to participate and spectate? Help me understand why the participation of whites is so low, Shipstones? And if our national parade is so boring, why aren't whites compelled to get involved to make it more exciting?

[shipstones on 16.02.05 at 20:04]

why aren't whites compelled to get involved to make it more exciting?

compelled? May be another law PLP are going to put forward!

I think it is more of a personal choice. Aren't Portugese white people or was that another of those slips of the tongue?

[clydesdale on 16.02.05 at 20:55]

Here here Onion and Jake. Excellent posts, the thread should have stopped there.

[replicator on 16.02.05 at 20:59]

Fornicator asked: "Can anyone explain why white participation is so low during the parade? "

Because there are many ways to celebrate Bermuda and being Bermudian.

Why must there be a litmus test?

Once we can all accept that different cultures (and subgroups within these cultures) have different traditions, but share the same love of country, perhaps we can move past the suspicion and questioning of motives that dominates most of our discourse.

[Calvin on 16.02.05 at 22:36]

I've been reading this website for just over a year now and on several occassions answers seeking to explain (or dismiss) the actions of the white community have been strikingly unsatisfying. Now, I'm not trying to start an argument, but, Replicator, that was just such a response.

Sure a cultural difference exists -- blacks, Portuguese and others enjoy the Bermuda Day Parade, while whites don't. Fine, I can accept that. But why does that cultural difference exist regarding an event celebrating us all?

[ace on 16.02.05 at 22:44]

Okay then, why would whites find it "fucking boring" while blacks, portuguese, philipinos and indians, find it interesting enough to participate and spectate? Help me understand why the participation of whites is so low, Shipstones? And if our national parade is so boring, why aren't whites compelled to get involved to make it more exciting?

But...the Philipino community must have felt pretty "slighted" after Bermudians complained that they shouldn't be allowed to win a year or two ago. Given that the majority of Bermudians attending were black I call "poor show" on their part.

I do think your point is valid though...I'd be up for some suggestions.

What about that "Boat Parade" thing? Boating seems to be seen as a white mostly type of activity, but I've been caught in traffic twice on that particular event, so I can attest to the attendance of all races. Lots of them. Too damn many of them if you ask me. I just wanted a video one one occassion and a take-out on another. The second time I turned around at the gas station by the A1 at the Paget gas station and drove the five minutes home it had taken me almost a half hour to reach.

lol...Am I a typical Bermudian or what? Complaining about an event that actually brings people on this island together.

[Ecky Thump on 16.02.05 at 23:17]

I see Ships mentioned Lou Rowles...I happened to be at the South P on Saturday night and I enquired of the bartender why the car parks were heaving...he replied that Lou Rowles was playing..

Damn I laughed....is that really his name?? Apparently it is..

Anyway.. I do have to wonder what the significance of BHM is here. Or really anywhere for that matter.

[Fornicator on 17.02.05 at 07:41]

"why aren't whites compelled to get involved to make it more exciting?

compelled? May be another law PLP are going to put forward!"

Why is it that you retreat to such comments when asked a question that you appear to find challenging? We talked about the suggestion to rename black history month into something that celebrates our unified culture. And then it dawned on me that we already have heritage month, and whites by and large have excluded themselves from it. If that's the best answer that you and replicator can come up with, then that is pretty sad. You mean tell us that whites "just don't" participate and see nothing odd about it.

"Aren't Portugese white people or was that another of those slips of the tongue?"

Why don't you ask the Portuguese, Shipstone? They put on a Portuguese Heritage float - not an Anglo Saxon heritage float, white colonial float or white Bermudian float. It's actually pretty awesome, and I don't find it the least bit "fucking boring".

Ace,

I agree it was quite sad that the Philipinos caught heat for winning an award a couple of years back. Bermudians have a long way to go when it comes to multi-culturalism.

[replicator on 17.02.05 at 09:14]

[sigh]

Calvin,

Maybe you'll be more satisfied with this answer:

that white Bermudians secretly hate Bermuda and resent having to mingle with blacks.

Satisfied?

I stopped posting and just read the comments here because the debate is so predictably depressing. Phil's posts are interesting and should spark some real debate about the issues but instead it inevitably comes back to white vs black.

The Dinghy races in St. Geo go way further back than the parade and few blacks attend there. That celebrates our sailing heritage. What gives?

The Bermuda Festival celebrates the arts in Bermuda but is heavily overrepresented with whites, even moreso when whites are 30% of the population. Help me with that?

Pony racing at Vesey St is predominantly Portuguese. Why aren't more non-Portuguese whites and blacks participating?

Do blacks hate the water? Do blacks have no culture or resent enjoying the arts with whites. Does the non-portuguese white and black community dislike horses? Of course not. It's cultural.

Come on. I'm depressed again already. It's cultural not race hate. Please.

I'll keep reading Phil's posts, but the comment threads I'm done with. They're so predictable I could write them myself.

[Onion on 17.02.05 at 09:48]

At the end of the day we have to be honest and appreciate that Bermudians are just so used to being divided that they don't know any other way. Segregation got the ball rolling and now that's just the way it is. The focus must be on promoting a united Bermuda.

Right now we have the white sail boat races and the black sail boat races. We have tennis tournaments where the white Coral Beach members would support their star and the black Port Royal or Tennis Stadium supporters would promote their star. In commercial football you have an all black PHC Raiders, an all anglo-white BAA and an all Portuguese Vasco. In Churches you have an all white Evangelical Church and an all black AME. We have all white and all black Lodges. You have an all rich white RBYC, all middle class white/Portuguese Spanish Point Boat Club, and all black Somerset CC. After work you have an all black group going to Caseys or Captains to get "hot" and an all white group going to Robin Hood to get "hot" if they are Bermudian or "sloshed" if non-Bermudian.

You get the point. We are divided. The question is do we want to leave it as it is or take a risk and get some unity? I look at something like the Bermuda Sloop Foundation which is an organisation put together by black and white Bermudians to teach youngsters the history of the Bermuda Sloop. It is a charity that allows young Bermudians to live on board this boat for months at a time and learn navigation, ship building, cooking, and sailing in general. Most importantly it teaches kids how both black and white Bermudians played a part in the development of what was once the fastest boat in the world - designed by Bermudians (faster than Bristish Navy vessels!). How many people today know this? How many know that blacks Bermudians were the best ship builders and navigators in the world at one point in history?

We keep calling sailing a white heritage. That is rubbish. We call football and cricket black heritage. That is rubbish as well as we have produced a few white professionals who have played in UK professionally.

This is the type of knowledge that needs to seep into our schools.

[shipstones on 17.02.05 at 15:49]

Fornicator,
I wouldn't go and sit and watch the queen, George Bush or Michael Jordan float passed me! I don't enjoy it! I cannot speak for all other whites. The only thing I can say parades are not in my heritage. May be you would get a lot of Northern Irish Catholics and Protestants standing on opposite sides of front street to go as it is a part of their heritage!
Luckily you do not represent all black Bermudians either Fornicator! There are many many who do welcome whites without figuring out what is there motive! I played with some of them at Warwick workmens club. I've talked to them in Captain's lounge "full hot!". I've played darts or snooker with them at Baileys Bay cricket club. I've played golf with many at Ocean View.
The only Parade I think I would like to be part of is the one in RIO but my wife won't let me go for some reason!

[rich on 17.02.05 at 16:44]

"May be you would get a lot of Northern Irish Catholics and Protestants standing on opposite sides of front street to go as it is a part of their heritage!"

That is one of the most insensitive comments I have ever read on this board, and if you knew even one bit of history surrounding 'the troubles' you'd refrain from mocking the issue.

[shipstones on 17.02.05 at 17:01]

Oh my lord!
I apologise to the Northern Irish!
May be we need a Northern Irish history month!

[Martin on 17.02.05 at 20:35]

What we all need Shipstones - irrespective of who or what we are - is empathy.

[ace on 17.02.05 at 20:55]

Good post Onion.

It's crazy, but true.

[big bad wolf on 17.02.05 at 20:57]

No What we really need is a WOLF HISTORY MONTH. My people have been hunted tortured, to near extinction. We have just moved back to Montana but anytime a head of cattle goes missing we are always blamed.We need are own history month...It would be a howling success. Love a ^..^ month.

[Fornicator on 17.02.05 at 21:08]

Shipstones,

Why is it that you take any QUESTION about the actions of whites as a group as a personal attack on your own character? I ask about the GROUP and you always respond with what you PERSONALLY do. You never seek to explain the behavior of the group or differentiate yourself from it. All you do is offer your own experience as if it would explain the behavior of every white person. So Shipstones finds the parade "fucking boring" so that must be the reason why everyone else doesn't attend, eh? Geeze man, can we quit with the obtuse retorts?

"Calvin,

Maybe you'll be more satisfied with this answer:

that white Bermudians secretly hate Bermuda and resent having to mingle with blacks.

Satisfied?"

Replicator,

The heritage day parage is supposed to be about the island's heritage - a celebration of our people. Unlike the other events that segregate along specific cultural interests, the parade aims to celebrate diversity as evidenced by the participation of blacks, portuguese and Phillapinos - no other event seeks to accomplish this.

I can't understand how anyone could justify the almost-complete absence of whites in the national heritage day parade. We should be disturbed by it, asking why it is so and considering what can be done to celebrate OUR DAY together. Why does such a challenge disturb your sensibilities?

[ace on 17.02.05 at 21:42]

Fornicator has a very valid point.

I take my kids to the Veterans Parade, but I don't go to the parade on Bermuda Day.

I can only justify that by saying there is nothing else that celebrates the veterans of the last World War that fought to protect all our backsides, black and white.

In general I don't like parades much.

I'm not keen on the whole US cheerleading rip-off majorette twirly baton stuff. I'm sorry if that offends anyone, but I'm being honest. It doesn't impress me one bit.

I don't like the fact that people reserve spots right at the side of the street and set up entire "areas" for themselves and their friends. It just seems selfish to me.

I used to build floats when I was in school, but I don't even remember why we did it. I remember it was alot of work and the process just seemed to kill alot of plants and flowers to look pretty for a few minutes.

Let's do something else. Why does it have to be a parade?

Let's have another kite flying day or something. THAT is a time when blacks and whites all mingle together in parks and on beaches across this island.

I can't wait this year. Back in May 2004 I bought a Red Baron Triplane kite on a trip. It's still in it's package and. I have my fishing rod ready and a glove (so this year I won't burn my fingers on the line...that really hurts lemme tell you). I learned the fishing rod trick from my bro-in-law after spending about an hour winding in a kite I had waaaaaaaaay up there a few years ago. It's so much easier to just reel it in. :)

[Point on 17.02.05 at 21:44]

ace

Just make sure you have the right lb. test otherwise your Red Baron is really going to take flight!

[ace on 17.02.05 at 22:04]

Last year I flew a great "bat" style kite with the rod and it did take flight..as you say. But it broke where I had tied the string attached to the kite to the fishing line. Lasted 3 years though. The line itself is plenty strong enough, it was the string that weakened. Plus..she was blowing last year where I was and the line actually snapped because I had to disengage the "clutch" on the reel because I had forgotten my glove and burned the heck out of my fingers trying to slow the accent of the kite without a sudden jerk. When I disengaged it the line came to a sudden halt and broke where I had spliced the string and line together.

But, sound advice...thanks.