Bermuda's Onoda Syndrome Sufferers

Royal Gazette Opinion, Friday 13 May 2005

On a small Philippine island some seventy-five miles south-west of Manila, a Japanese soldier emerges from the jungle. Carrying a .25 calibre rifle, 500 rounds of ammunition and several hand grenades, he meets his commanding officer. The officer tells him that the Second World War has ended; he can return home. The soldier weeps. The date is 9 March, 1974.

The story of 2nd Lt. Hiroo Onoda, the Japanese soldier who continued to fight the Second World War for almost 29 years after it ended, is the most famous of the stories of the Japanese holdouts. But there were many others across the Pacific who fought on for months or years after Japan’s surrender on 2 September, 1945, unaware or disbelieving of the war’s end.

It’s tempting to think of Lt. Onoda as a foolish man who chose to ignore the evidence that the war had ended. But his determination to fight on was a result of his upbringing. Bushido, the code of the samurai warrior, was the creed of the Japanese soldiers. It demanded bravery and loyalty, and considered death preferable to surrender.

Fast-forward thirty years, to another remote island, this time in the middle of the Atlantic.

In the 29 April, 2005 issue of the Workers Voice (sic), Alvin Williams writes about another conflict, that between the black and white residents of Bermuda:

“This is a war and I have always looked upon it as such. I have trained for it and been a part of it even during the days when I used to write letters to the editor of the Royal Gazette where I faced hostile letter-writers… [I am] ready to react if something needs to be defended concerning the progressive forward movement of this country. As I have stated, this is a war, and I am in it for the long term.”

There is no doubt that for many years the struggle of Bermuda’s blacks was indeed a war. Battles were fought first against slavery and segregation, then for universal suffrage and political representation. The combatants grew up in a society which sought to persuade them that they were inferior; their struggle instilled in them a warrior’s code not unlike that of Bushido.

Clearly, racial discrimination still exists today. Economically, black Bermudians are still suffering too: the 2000 Census shows that they still earn less than white Bermudians in every occupational group. This is the legacy of the era of segregation, and it must be addressed.

But this is just a mopping-up operation. The war is over. The martial spirit of Mr. Williams and his band of brothers, which once served them well, is now as useless as the rusting ships and aircraft that still litter the Pacific. They are suffering from the Onoda Syndrome.

Numerous attempts were made to find Lt. Onoda and persuade him to return to Japan. Leaflets saying that the war had ended were dropped on his island, as were photographs and letters from home. Newspapers were left for him. Friends and relatives spoke to him over loudspeakers. Lt. Onoda found something suspicious in every approach, dismissing them all as Allied propaganda or a trick.

Similarly, Bermuda’s Onoda Syndrome sufferers still find racism in any comment from the white community. If necessary, they’ll read between the lines to winkle it out. Criticism of the PLP is dismissed as racially-motivated propaganda. Conciliatory gestures, by individuals or by the UBP, are dismissed as a trick.

Lt. Onoda believed that the Philippine villagers he encountered were enemy spies or troops in disguise, and fired on them. In his time on the Island he killed at least 30 Filipinos and wounded around 100 more.

Similarly, Mr. Williams uses his columns to snipe at Bermuda’s whites, making crude generalisations about “white thought” and suggesting that “[the white community’s] racism has prevented them from seeing [black people] as human beings on the same level as themselves.” He may not be killing anyone, but his comments are poisoning the well of trust that both races need to draw from.

Some of the Japanese holdouts knew that the war had ended, but were too afraid to give themselves up. They feared disgrace from their families or were unwilling to return to their American-occupied home.

Perhaps Bermuda’s Onoda Syndrome sufferers know that the war is over too, but having spent all their lives battling against racism, cannot bring themselves to believe that most whites now consider blacks to be their equals.

It’s a tragedy that one man wasted 29 years continuing to fight a war that had already been lost. But it’s an even greater tragedy that some Bermudians are wasting their lives fighting a war that has already been won.

Bermuda’s black and white communities must find a way to bring these old warriors down out of the hills, so that they can enjoy the spoils of their victory instead.

Comments

[Steve Moffat on 13.05.05 at 09:19]

LOL....good post

[Tiger Bay on 13.05.05 at 09:36]

Ooooooh, Laverne's gonna git ya!

[Raptor on 13.05.05 at 09:36]

Limey, Well done--an excellent post. These are still challenging times, but they are the times when people need to open themselves up to others and to greater possibilities, not be mired in the past. Certainly, there are some racists out there, but they're not all white; one of them seems to be Williams. It's time for Williams to see this situation more clearly and re-define himself within today's reality. He does a disservice to the reading public. Let's all get it together and move forward positively, with respect for one another, which I believe is what most Bermudians desire and will strive for. Williams should use his soapbox to inspire and encourage, not to spew his mostly illogical and out-of-date arguments. We need leaders with an inclusive social conscience.

[Andrre on 13.05.05 at 09:51]

Indeed, well said Phil, well said.

[Onion on 13.05.05 at 10:07]

Limey, you cannot take out a whole article to talk about "Onoda Syndrome" without talking about the Defenders of the White Faith (the "Defenders").

Even though, as you put it, the war is over the Defenders continue to barricade themselves into fortified bunkers, manned with sentries 24 hours a day and armed with heavy artillery and snipers from vantage positions. The Colours flying above the fort are emblazoned in bold print with the words, "White Guilt".

When a black man walks past the fort and looks in its direction this brings a warning from the sentries who in turn send alarm bells through all the barracks contained within the fort shouting, "Onoda Sufferer!!! 100 meters to the front. MAKE READY. STAND TO!!"

As the black man stands perplexed gazing at the site of 100 mini rugers cocked and pointed in his direction, he opens his mouth to inquire about the need for such a fortification. But before he opens his mouth the white officer from the Defenders shouts out, "We've never hurt your people before!! Why are you attacking us? We love your people. I used to play football with Dandy Town. My sergeant used to play in a reggae band. My corporal has tons of Nelson Mandela t-shirts at home. Who the heck do you think you are coming here to attack us?? I repeat WE ARE NOT RACISTS!! In fact when I played football with Dandy Town the blacks were rude to me and didn't always invite me to the bar after games. So it goes both ways!! We're tired of always being acused for things we didn't do. Go away Onoda Sufferer. Leave us alone, we've never been bad to your people!!!!!! We know all black people are PLP supporters and have Malcolm X and Farrakhan posters on their walls and we know you ALL hate white people but we are the DEFENDERS OF THE WHITE FAITH, and we will not be made to feel guilty anymore!!"

The black man turns around and goes the other way shaking his head, having only wanted to inquire about the need for such a massive fortification in what he thought was peace time. He puts his hands in his pocket and makes his way down the road.

The officer then shouts out, "He's got a gun!! FIRE!!!!!!!!"

[Tiger Bay on 13.05.05 at 10:13]

Good lord, he's been hanging out in the Bermuda Flea Speech Forum.

[Onion on 13.05.05 at 10:22]

No, I've bee hanging out in www.limeyinbermuda.com

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 13.05.05 at 10:26]

Limey,

I agree that war may be over but the battle still continues. You pointed out the fact the blacks earn less than whites for the same job.

Just as many whites get nervous of a group of black men walking toward them simply because they are a group of black men, blacks remain suspicious of whites due to sites like Bermuda Freedon Forum, or whatever it is called. The participants on this site could the person with whom a black Bermudian works, it could be his boss, it could be participants on this site.

The reality is that racism is still very much alive and well in Bermuda except in today's Bermuda you do not know whom the racists are because much of it is conceald by the veil of corporate Bermuda. The 2000 Census, I believe, proves this. Blacks are still to a large degree economically disadvantaged.

I agree that there are some blacks that could be called racists but they can't realistically disadvantage whites economically. You see I could care less if someone does not like me because of the colour of my skin, that is his problem not mine and it has no impact on me. The fact that he may have some hold over my economic success impacts me directly and causes me to react.

[Yallaton on 13.05.05 at 10:36]

One problem is that blacks are ashamed that they lived under segregation for so long with so little protest. When people began speaking up against segregation, the vast majority of Bermudians, black and white, dismissed those involved as trouble-makers. A lot of black people now, as a result, feel they have to go overboard to establish themselves, and their community, as warriors in the struggle.

[David on 13.05.05 at 11:15]

You paint the Japanese soldiers in the 2nd world war in a good light. This poor sap was a brave and loyal servant. Let us not forget that The Japanese fought with such ferocity and evil that some of their methods of killing more then matched the Nazis. This is well documented, except in japanese school text books.

[newbee on 13.05.05 at 12:32]

As my uncle, who was visiting the island at the time, put it: “I grew up in a multi-cultural environment where we didn’t differentiate people by their race. I didn’t even know the word “racist” existed until a person of color explained it to me and told me I was.”

[John Steele on 13.05.05 at 13:24]

This is a subject that has distressed me for years, and your article has helped me sort out my thoughts a little.

Many thanks.

[Buffalo Souljah on 13.05.05 at 14:11]

"Economically, black Bermudians are still suffering too: the 2000 Census shows that they still earn less than white Bermudians in every occupational group."

Than white Bermudians or whites? Big difference. These sorts of figures tend to be skewed by the mega-bucks incomes of a relative handful of very wealthy Bermuda residents. Could you double check, Phil? I'm not arguing that income disparities don't still exist between the races in Bermuda. But so often in the past statistics have been pulled out that do not in fact compare white and black *Bermudian* incomes but rather white and black incomes. A lot of politicians have said a lot of stupid things on this issue in the past because of the confusion that exists.

[JJ on 13.05.05 at 14:34]

Good point Buffalo.
However, Limey's article does not argue that disparities don't exsist, but that they represent the "mopping-up" process of a war that is by and large over. The huge issues of race discrimination are behind us, but that this fact is not recognised by the Alvin Williamses of this world who continue fighting a war they have already won.
What a pity a man of such obvious intellect and ability cannot focus his attention on more productive issues.

[JoJo on 13.05.05 at 15:31]

I like Onion's analogy above. Limey ain't gonna talk about that side of the coin.

[big bad wolf on 13.05.05 at 17:55]

^..^ No Comment!

[The Limey on 13.05.05 at 18:07]

Onion,

I don't know whether to laugh or wince, but you're absolutely right. Onoda Syndrome sufferers are white as well as black. I focused on the black ones in this article for several reasons:

1. That's how the first draft came out, having been sparked off by Alvin Williams' WV column. When I re-read it I realised that my comments could equally apply to some white Bermudians too, but I didn't have time to do the wholesale rewrite that would have been necessary before my deadline.

2. White Onoda Syndrome sufferers generally don't speak out publicly like black sufferers do (overt black racism is tolerated, whereas white racism is now socially unacceptable). White prejudice is equally objectionable, don't get me wrong, but it's not as in-your-face. Or at least, I don't think it is. But maybe that's just because I'm white.

3. I'm white. I can therefore speak with some authority about how the comments of people like Alvin Williams come across to some white people. I can't speak to how blacks are affected by racist white behaviour however, although I can imagine. I therefore chose to focus on one side of the equation. I intended to make it clear that I'm aware that the other side exists too, but perhaps that didn't come across.

[The Limey on 13.05.05 at 18:12]

Guilden,

I don't believe that black economic disadvantage is primarily a result of white racism today. I think it's more likely to be a legacy of the days of segregation when blacks were not permitted to obtain education of the same quality as whites. If you don't have the education, you're not going to have the same earning power.

This is just a theory of mine, however, and I freely admit that I have no evidence to back it up. I'd need figures on household income by race, occupational group and age to prove that, and I don't believe these are in the Census.

[The Limey on 13.05.05 at 18:16]

Buffalo,

White Bermudians. I was careful to say exactly what I meant.

It's also true that whites generally earn more than blacks generally, and that white non-Bermudians earn more than black non-Bermudians. The Census has all 3 sets of figures.

[Bill Cook on 14.05.05 at 09:47]

I am looking at the figures for incomes earned by both white and black Bermudians.

In the over $108,000 pa income bracket there are 2,880 blacks and 1,780 whites.

In the $76,000 bracket 1,368 blacks v/s 535 whites, in the $92,000 bracket 1,368 v/s 539 whites and in the bottom category ie under $16,000 719 blacks v/s 286 whites.

The MYTH that blacks are so much worse off financially is just that a Myth.

It is no myth to me as I travel quite a bit with blacks and we stay in good hotels cruise on top line shipping lines etc. and spend liberally in the finest restuarants, we all live in very nice homes that we own, and travel sometimes in business class esp. if its a long trip etc. so I have first hand knowledge, however dont take my word go to C TRAVEL and you will find that most of their business caters to non whites as well as whites and that in all liklihood blacks spend $1 million per week on exotic travel.

The most vocal of those who claim that they are disavantaged are not successful in their careers and like one screamer who has rose to the dizzy heights of POSTMAN and wonders why things cost so much rather than go train and elevate his abilities to go a higher paying job category, chooses to blame his mediocrity on anthing but his own ability or lack thereof.

If you cant do it in Bermuda you sure as hell wont do it in any other country

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 14.05.05 at 09:58]

Limey,

Blacks today are just as educated as whites, in many cases more so, yet there is still today, the income disparity. So your theory does not hold true.

[Getaclue on 14.05.05 at 10:20]

"The MYTH that blacks are so much worse off financially is just that a Myth."

Salary statistics do nothing more than tell you who is earning wealth at this time based on salary. It has nothing to do with the accumulation of wealth/assets over the last 100years, a critical factor when comparing financial advantage across the races. Considering that blacks have only had opportunities to earn higher levels of income in the last 20-25 years, you do not have to be a rocket scientist to understand that black wealth would be much less than white wealth. Salary statistics also have nothing to do with income earned from revenue streams such as business profits, liquidation of assets, capital gains, investment income and so-on. To go a step further, the 78k and $108k tiers include too broad a salary base to distinguish between high paid professionals and those who are really bringing in excessive wealth. Spreading those tiers out to $125k, $175k, $225k and so on would likely give you a dramatically different picture.

Put salaries aside and let's analyse who owns what to determine if blacks are worse off financially. Let's take Hamilton alone and count how many buildings are owned by blacks. Of course most of them were purchased during times when blacks were denied the most basic rights, but feel free to ignore this point if it doesn't suit your convenient few of discrimination and white advantage in Bermuda.

"The most vocal of those who claim that they are disavantaged are not successful in their careers and like one screamer who has rose to the dizzy heights of POSTMAN and wonders why things cost so much rather than go train and elevate his abilities to go a higher paying job category, chooses to blame his mediocrity on anthing but his own ability or lack thereof."

There are plenty of very successful blacks who share the same sentiments but remain silent because they fear people who think like you. They may work for or with you, but would not get on a soapbox because they expect a swift end to their careers (as history has taught us). If this myth is as you proclaim, why don't you tell us why there is almost 0.0% white hotel workers, bus drivers, belco/telco workers, trash truck drivers and restaurant workers. Is it that there are so few mediocre white Bermudians around? Or perhaps it is because being mediocre doesn't really matter when the group you have connections with happens to be the ownership/wealth class? Maybe being mediocre doesn't matter when you can inherit wealth, or you are good friends with wealthy people who would give you a shot despite your mediocrity.

Salaries give a very distorted figure of wealth on this island. Just think about it.

[big bad wolf on 14.05.05 at 10:35]

No comment ^..^

[Bill Cook on 14.05.05 at 10:48]

Yes I did do a study on the priveleged few.

That is exactly what they are that the FEW.

Probably the concentration of wealth by original settler elitists is less than 3% of the total pop. and are not salary earners in the strictist sense.

While it is true some buildings are owned by these people many esp. the latest big ones are not, furthermore there is a steady increase in the buildings owned by blacks, Freddie Yearwood of course owns a formidable lot of city realty plus domestic and Fred is of course black and has come a long way since he was a beach boy at Elbow Beach with Ewart Browns brother.

When I came here in the late 50s earning 80 cents ph for a 48 hour week I saw very few Bermudian whites doing that job that is true and it an interesting point.

The fact that there are few whites in civil service jobs may be for a variety of reasons such as not being able to have them in the past.

But it would be hard to deny that in the last decade or so the large movement of blacks esp females into top job categories has been impressive and will I think escalate even moreso.

50% of blacks own the homes they live in and 50% of whites do also

The point is this the vast middle class who some say is the real backbone of any society is made up of both black and white in numbers that reflect the racial makeup of Bermuda, thats important.

[The Limey on 14.05.05 at 10:51]

Bill,

When comparing incomes between black and white Bermudians it's important to be sure you're comparing like with like. Figures for the numbers of blacks and whites in a particular income bracket are not meaningful because

1. There are more blacks than whites in Bermuda, so you would expect to see more blacks in each tier.

2. It doesn't tell you where in each bracket the salaries are being earned. All the blacks in one bracket could be earning the salary at the bottom of the scale, all the whites, the salary at the top.

Try looking on page 75 of the 2000 Census instead. It paints a very different picture.

Guilden,

I agree black kids growing up in Bermuda today have the same educational opportunities as whites. But that was not true in the past. There is also some question as to whether they are making the most of those opportunities.

In 2000, Bermuda's black population was not as educated as its white population. See page 51 of the 2000 Census, which shows the percentage of the population over 16 by Bermudian status, race and highest educational qualification.

Then, 23% of white Bermudians were educated to degree level; only 11% of black Bermudians were. 35% of black Bermudians had no qualifications; only 26% of white Bermudians were in the same position.

In terms of degree education, the gap between blacks and whites seems to have widened since 1991. Then, 15% of white Bermudians were educated to degree level and a mere 7% of black Bermudians. However the gap has closed for those leaving school with no qualifications: in 1991, 45% of black Bermudians had no qualifications and 32% of white Bermudians.

Given there is a correlation between educational level and income I am still inclined to think that it's education that is mostly responsible for black Bermudians' economic disadvantage, rather than racism.

[Bill Cook on 14.05.05 at 10:53]

May I also point out that many jobs done by white Portuguese were not sought after by Bermudian blacks ie farming landscaping roadworks cleaners etc, and only now is changing after the UBP sent 100s home after being here all those yrs oddly enough now being replaced by blacks from down south it seems.

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 14.05.05 at 11:03]

Limey,

"Given there is a correlation between educational level and income I am still inclined to think that it's education that is mostly responsible for black Bermudians' economic disadvantage, rather than racism."

I agree wth you to a certain degree because Michael Collier, former CEO of the Bank of Butterfield made this comment in about 1996. He said that blacks had not moved up the rank in the bank due to a lack of education. However, the highest level of education he had was a secondary education from Mt. St. Agnes. This says an awful lot about how he got to the top of the bank. It was not his level of educaton but more the colour of his skin.

Michael Collier's success is not singular, many whites in senior management position, especially in the domestic sector got there not because of their level of education but because of the colour of their skin. If you think this does not still happen today I would say you are sadly mistaken.

[Bill Cook on 14.05.05 at 11:14]

Guilden,

Of course you are correct but what you attribute to colour is in reality " THE OLD BOYS CLUB" if your nose fits yer in if not yer out.

Try being poor, white, and without Bermuda Status working your ass off being refused promotion and given all the most dangerous jobs while being the only person in the ENTIRE place of employment with a college education and see how it feels. Almost all the others were black.

I always find it informative and educational to get the view from anothers viewpoint.

[The Limey on 14.05.05 at 11:18]

Guilden,

I'm not saying racial discrimination does not still happen today. I just don't believe it's the main reason for economic disparities.

It will always be possible to point to examples of those who have succeeded despite a lack of formal education. Just look at the "street smarts" in the latest series of the Apprentice. But in general, the better your education, the more money you are likely to earn. If that was not the case, few people would bother going to university (I certainly didn't go because I wanted to learn about physics). Address the qualification gap between black and white Bermudians and I believe the wealth gap will disappear too.

[Canuck on 14.05.05 at 12:11]

excellent comment limy,as a former resident,I can say the slurs and outright rudeness to me by many blacks is THEIR problem,I live in Toronto, the most tolerant,multi cultural city on the continent,and have never experienced that kind of racism here in Canada.

the pictures of beaten women on the Bermuda free Speech Forum will ensure your demise.

[othello on 14.05.05 at 14:22]

Phil,
Definitely the best article you have written thus far. You are right - Bermuda needs to look towards its future, rather than constantly revitalising parts of history that promote future conflict!
<'XXXX-<

[big bad wolf on 14.05.05 at 15:52]

Heah Cannuk some of the most narrow minded and racist people I have encountered were Canadian boys from West Mount who hated Americans, Jews, and French Canadians. Infact at my school they were always bulling and picking on them...So the snow is not lily white in Canada....so take care of your huge supply of Beavers and don't throw stones because well you live in a house made of glass. ^..^ goes North for a BITE!!!

[Getaclue on 14.05.05 at 20:14]

"While it is true some buildings are owned by these people many esp. the latest big ones are not, furthermore there is a steady increase in the buildings owned by blacks, Freddie Yearwood of course owns a formidable lot of city realty plus domestic and Fred is of course black and has come a long way since he was a beach boy at Elbow Beach with Ewart Browns brother."

These are the kinds of simple-minded comments that enrage many blacks. It has been proposed to you that as an indicator of white advantage, most buildings in Hamilton are likely owned by whites and were likely purchased at a time when basic democratic rights were denied. In defence you name a single black person who has done well, as if that somehow proves that Hamilton is an example of racial equality. What Freddie Yearwood owns compared to the rest of Hamilton could not even remotely prove that blacks are not economically disadvantaged. I'm sure you know this, so it is perplexing that anyone could put this forward.

Comments like, "50% of blacks own the homes they live in and 50% of whites do also," are also paper thin. Take it one step further. What about the comparative value of these homes and ownership of additional property. Blacks on average own homes valued at what price, and how does that compare on average to whites? How many blacks who own property own a second, third or fourth property? How many owners inherited property compared to those who had to buy via a mortgage? These are the questions that ought to be asked and answered.

What is so frustrating for blacks when discussing race is that anyone who was sincerely interested in investigating racial privilege in Bermuda can read those statistics and tell that they could not possibly tell the whole story. I mean give me a break!

"The point is this the vast middle class who some say is the real backbone of any society is made up of both black and white in numbers that reflect the racial makeup of Bermuda, thats important."

Exactly what is the definition of middle class, and how relevant is it in a discussion of racial advantage? In most societies the middle-class does not hold any real economic power beyond what they can do for themselves. They don't own businesses, they work for businesses. You simply cannot define the fairness, or lack thereof, in a society by the middleclass alone. You must look at all of the levels. Bill, have you EVER seen a white postman? What do you think happened to mediocre white people in the 60's-2000? Do you think that a mediocre white person (then and now) has any greater chance of accumulating wealth than a mediocre black person, purely because of inheritence or through economic/social connections?

[Getaclue on 14.05.05 at 20:42]

"Given there is a correlation between educational level and income I am still inclined to think that it's education that is mostly responsible for black Bermudians' economic disadvantage, rather than racism."

There definitely is a correlation between education and economic disadvantage, but you must think this through specific decades. I believe that being college educated mattered much less in the 70's and 80's than it does today. Even if every single black person was college educated in the 70's, there would still be white economic advantage today. You simply cannot change hundreds of years of economic and social advantage in 30 years time just by sending blacks off to college, while the society still has racial hang-ups.

Economic advantage first comes from ownership, and then from accumulation of wealth. But it takes accumulation of wealth to become an owner. Of critical importance to Bermuda, you simply cannot become an owner in a maturing economy, unless you are able to offer a superior product/service, or if someone sells an established business to you. You could take all the most educated and wealthy blacks in the entire island, but if Hamilton real estate is largely developed, and no one wants to sell, blacks will be systemically frozen out of future opportunities in the city.

Now that the economy has become more service based and less entrepreneurial, blacks stand a greater chance at earning greater income. You no longer need to own a building in Hamilton to make $100k per year. The professional fields are critical factors in dealing with black disadvantage, and now is the best time ever for blacks to begin turning the tide. But far too many are ignorantly giving up on a sound education when international business is providing them with economic opportunities that white Bermudians have never given them. If ever there was a chance to accumulate wealth and make a better life for their families, this would be it. A lack of a basic education is destroying available opportunies, but it is not the primary reason at this time. Give blacks another hundred years of taking advantage of an economic environment like this, then perhaps you'll see the scales balance out. But not in 2005 under even the best of educational standards.

[Bill Cook on 15.05.05 at 11:53]

Question,

Do you know how many buildings in town are owned by non whites ?

Have you done the maximum with the opportunities available to you bypassing for the moment those that are not ?

Do you believe that the opportunities and general more even playing field has improved since the sixties?

If a convict in Westgate can aquire a law degree whilst incarcerated does it not stimulate others less handicapped ?

Would you rather be a whiner than a worker ?

Dont come on with vague information, state your case where you have been handicapped by race and lets all discuss it in detail and as I sign my name and discuss difficulties I have experienced perhaps you too would do likewise to assist in studying the validity of yours and my claims fair ?

I have always beleived its not what you have but what you do with what youve got that is the measure of the man.

If there are indeed areas that I and interested others can assist we may together become part of the solution rather than compound the problem

[Raptor on 15.05.05 at 14:02]

Limey, thank you for working so hard on your blog and for the great job you did with the “Bermuda’s Onoda Syndrome Sufferers” post, as well as with subsequent clarifications.

Getaclue writes clearly and well. Might he take over Alvin’s column? We could use more of that kind of thinking and perspective.

Onion’s post is haunting.

Here’s Galt (from the “No Smoking” thread, on property):

“You own property you decide what you do with it. If you don't want to rent it to Blacks, Whites, Jews, Spics, Gays, Smokers who ever, its yours, no other individual has any claim on your property.”

And it sounds as though the “Bermuda Free Speech Forum” gets worse than this! I’ve been afraid to look. Who are these people? How many of them are there? It’s clear that there is plenty of racism in Bermuda, although it is likely confined to a far smaller group than “all Whites.” Alvin, stop accusing every white person of racism.

Alvin writes in the “WV” that “this is a war.” He is the Samurai in your post, the follower of the code of Bushido. The Samurai were distinguished by their military functions and were a member of an elite ruling class, empowered by their right to carry weapons and to cut down any commoner who offended them. They were activists, stressing spiritual discipline, physical superiority, and military excellence. However, they lost all their rights and hereditary stipends—taken away by their government. What is significant is that many joined the emerging establishment, and the role of the samurai families in founding Japan’s business class can hardly be exaggerated—while others failed. The changes they faced were extraordinary.

It is clear from the census figures quoted that Black Bermudians are still earning less than white Bermudians in every occupational group, as you wrote; also, that blacks overall are not as well educated. It is essential to get all Bermuda youth, especially Black Bermuda youth, well educated. Education is even more important than it used to be. The percentages of Black men in the prison system may be an indicator of larger numbers not functioning to the best of their abilities.

Getaclue is right to point out the high barrier to entry in finances and jobs in this society. While Cook points out that “original settler elitists are less than 3% of the total population,” he fails to consider the immensely far larger percentage of assets that 3% owns. A history of inheritance and connections is a phenomenal advantage. I understand that Cook speaks from his position as a white man who started from relatively little, worked very hard, and struggled to create a business. That is admirable. But even with hard work, opportunities like that were available to very few Black Bermudians in the past. I am encouraged to hear that someone at Westgate has gotten a law degree, but I know also that it is a very small percentage of men who are able to get beyond a poor upbringing, a life including crime, etc., and to turn their lives around, and be educated often from a very low level up—while in prison. It is not fair to use that one person as a yardstick. Remediation, parental education, a strong education system, and hard work have to start earlier. Otherwise, youth and adults are lost to themselves and to the community.

Conciliation and fairness need to come to the table. But it’s going to take a clearer understanding of the facts to get people there.

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 15.05.05 at 16:19]

This discussion again highlights the different ways blacks and whites view Bermuda.

It amazes me how even with the participants on this site te interpretations of Alvin's article is markedly different between blacks and whites. Blacks read Alvin's column and nod their heads in agreement, whites shake their heads in disgust and disagreement.

Does this not evidence the degree to which blacks and white misunderstand each other?

Whether we want to admit it our not in many areas of life in Bermuda blacks ad whites are very much separate and apart. Avin's column and the comments on this topic clearly show it. It is good that it is being discussed, however, there needs to be broad-based discussions before there is any chance of any real change.

[John on 15.05.05 at 17:46]

Guilden

When Nick Griffin of the British National Party writes about what he thinks of the black people who live in Britain, I shake my head in disgust and disagreement.

When Alvin Williams writes about what he thinks of the white people who live in Bermuda, I again shake my head in disgust and disagreement.

Am I misunderstanding a point somewhere, or does this tell me something about Alvin?

[Getaclue on 15.05.05 at 17:47]

"Dont come on with vague information, state your case where you have been handicapped by race and lets all discuss it in detail and as I sign my name and discuss difficulties I have experienced perhaps you too would do likewise to assist in studying the validity of yours and my claims fair ?"

If you are asking me to provide you with proof of how I was racially disadvantaged when the historical evidence is here for all to see, then you have entirely missed the point. When have you EVER seen a white postman? What do you think happened to mediocre white people in the 60's-2000? Do you think that a mediocre white person (then and now) has any greater chance of accumulating wealth than a mediocre black person, purely because of inheritence or through economic/social connections? What then is the real value of salary statistics in determining real economic advantage? I'm not presenting anything vague to you at all. It's just blatantly obvious that racial advantage is not a myth as you claim.

One final thing. When it is much more likely that your opinion is in opposition to those who have economic control over your livlihood, it pays to use a pseudonym. So you'll just have to accept my anonymity and deal with what I've written until I no longer have to worry about people penalising me for expressing my point of view. I just don't have the luxury that you seemingly can afford.

[The Limey on 15.05.05 at 18:23]

Guilden

Blacks read Alvin's column and nod their heads in agreement

Is that all blacks, most blacks, many blacks, some blacks? And how do you know?

Did you read Alvin's WV column in full?

[big bad wolf on 15.05.05 at 18:34]

That would be some blacks Phil... ^..^ Man you lot your colour games!

[Raptor on 15.05.05 at 18:35]

Guilden: Excuse me, but are you assuming that I am White because I think Getaclue would write a much better column than Alvin Williams? Give me a break! Or are you referring to Limey? Or someone else? It seems to me that one of the last things we all need is more stereotyping and racism.

[Anoymuous on 16.05.05 at 06:00]

this wont be a problem in about 40-50 years as those that grew up durring the years of seregation and mistrust will be dead or so old they wont be able to influence decsions. And when they die there thoughts will die with them. The future belongs to my generation (born in the late 80's) not a generation that still holds on to ideas that belong to history.

[Getaclue on 16.05.05 at 06:36]

"The future belongs to my generation (born in the late 80's) not a generation that still holds on to ideas that belong to history."

You couldn't be mistaken more. Racial economic privilege is passed from one generation to the next, and it will last a great deal longer than racist attitudes until specific measures to shif economic power are taken. Many blacks born post segregation had no clue about racism until they reached the work force and saw racial preference with their very own eyes. It was only when they saw the vast economic benefits of old Bermuda did they realise that they'd been had.

I smirk when I see these 1980's, bright-eyed, bushy-tailed young Bermudians talk about their parent's generation as if they were mentally impaired. Unless there is a real economic powershift in 50 years, they too will lose considerable optimism when they actually see how things have worked for decades. They too shall experience a rude awakening when they look beyond the benefits they personally reaped from those elders they now insult.

If you really want to change things, those with economic power will need to stop denying that racial advantage exists. Every one of us will have to play a role in righting the wrongs of discrimination by first acknowledging the long-lasting impact of the past.

[Bill Cook on 16.05.05 at 10:31]

Getaclue,

Let me preface my comments by noting your addiction of cut and paste when referring to other posts.

In my opinion there are at least 2 reasons for that, the first reflecting unimaginative intellectual sloth, the other a rather cowardly sneaky habit of cherry picking items that suit your argument and often perfert the message in its entirety, a fairly common occurrence on some international debates I contribute to.

I find it unusual that you feel that I may be less vulnerable by revealing my name as a white person than you as a black person in Bermuda

That point may have some validity in the past, but hard to see any reason nowadays.

Numerically by about 70% to 30% blacks outnumber whites.

We have a 100% black government, an overwhelming black judiciary, police service, civil service,and some leading black top management in the 2nd largest bank on the planets BDA branch.

I am not saying you are being deliberately disengenous in stating that you feel the way you do and you have every right to express yourself anonymously as do others on this forum, but I can honestly say that the advantage of being white is today and even in my day blown out of proportion.

IE I saved app.30% of my meagre salary for about 7 yrs with Bank of Bermuda ltd starting way back in the 50s went to the loan manager to get a small loan and was told to go and get a backer !!

There are other much larger deals but they involve some others my Portuguese partners and we had a really hard time getting loans.

It would always have been even harder for blacks and I acknowledge that, as I have assisted some young blacks in starting up their business and there was always lots of questions etc. but realistically its not just colour alone.

Regarding old established wealth and property in the hands of those few, its not too remarkable that the original settlers who started the initial commerce had the best commercial building sites and also the most (at least for the time as waterfront was not prime then) desirable residential land.

The transition of land and wealth however has been remarkable in past 30 yrs or so.
Perhaps not as fast or great as some wish but I venture to say Bermuda has more black millionaires per capita than anywhere on the planet.
Certainly the progress has been dramatic to my eyes having been here to witness it.

[Onion on 16.05.05 at 12:18]

The idea that economic diparities have a direct correlation with educational disparities is not accurate. Let's compares apples with apples.

In the 1950s, 60s, 70s and early 80s, the Berkeley Institute was on par with if not better than Saltus Grammar school. If you look around you today at the black doctors, lawyers, bankers, educators and top civil servants, many of them went to Berkeley. Certainly the crop of graduates from the 50s and 60s were well equiiped to go off to Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, McGuill etc etc.

However, academic qualifications will not ensure capital accumulation, nor will it ensure career advancement. Up until about 15 years ago all of the executive at the 2 major banks were white and many of them either did not have a university degree or they had a degree in a subject that was not even in business. FACT! Phil Butterfield is only the second black to reach the level of executive in ALL the Bank of Bermuda's history. FACT.

CD&P up until 1999 had one black partner out of thirty! Now they have two. AS&H had about 3 or 4. FACT.

The fact is many whites, even if they did not finish school, were able to rise through the ranks of a job merely by association. One of the reasons why we have so many expats in Bermuda right now is because many whites who either owned buinesses or who were in positions of leadership WERE NOT educated to the level necessary to run a a business in modern times. But it was more palatable to hand over the control of the business to a work permit holder who would only be around for three years or so than to allow more home grown black Bermudians a role in the business.

When the banks saw they could not compete in the modern world having the "Colliers" of this island at the helm of their businesses they imported a stream of expats to manage their businesses.

To deny that racism has not played a part in the disparities is to live in a dream world of iction.

Now, before some of you Defenders get all, well, defensive, this is not to say that blacks should blame all their woes on racism. Yes, some blacks have not risen to the occasion. Some blacks, yes some, spend a lot of their money on things that will not benefit them long-term. Some blacks are lazy and sit on the wall. But there are also whites in each category. The difference is that blacks are less likely to have owned any substantial asset or to have a relative or some strong contact that they can fall back on. As such, it is more imperative for a black to take advantage of every opportunity that comes his way.

Freddie Yearwood is reported to be the wealthiest black on the island. He had no education beyond secondary school, but he also had a shrewdness and a knack for buisiness that most whites nor blacks possess. Bill, throwing him imto the picture doesn't really do your argumant any justice. That's a bit like saying, because George Lucas has done well in his career, anti-semitism doesn't exist in the world. But I do agree that blacks and whites should take a leaf from Yearwood's book. It IS possible to achieve anything regardless of the colour of your skin and you level of education. It may have historically easier for some than others, but the opportunity is there. I have always said that. I just don't like when people distort history.

[gombey on 16.05.05 at 13:54]

bryant trew,your posting as onion,or whatever names your using this week does not hide the same message repeated ,endlessly.The fact that your a priviledge black ,making a very ,very good salary,has everything to do with the financial prosperity created on this island by the UBP and the white man.None of this racist balony you spew out every day here will change that fact,and does your boss at the bank know you spend all day posting race baiting plp propaganda on these sites?

[Bill Cook on 16.05.05 at 13:58]

Onion,

I am not really qualified to comment on the education areas with any real authority.

It does seem to me that there are many very bright blacks who had plenty of ability and certainly gave the impression of being well educated esp. in a literal sense.

I was very impressed by Vernon Jackson who wrote the book Paradise Found.

Regrettably it was only late in his life that we became friends, but I am glad we were.
Vernon was a source of inspiration to me with his social commentary letters to the editor.

His life as a coloured person which he referred to himself as was very difficult even at times tragic.

In spite of this he conducted himself with courage and dignity, which inspired me to write him and our friendship followed.

You must know how he opened a hotel and a restuarant with great success esp. given the oppressive circumstances he had to deal with.

What touched me and prompted my writing him was how he would rise above all that and in a very clear unbiased way comment on any given social issue without fear or favour.

He had a unique way of putting things into perspective that no one in my opinion can match today.

He made some unhappy because he rose above race and let the chips fall where they may, he marched to the sound of his own drummer, and was in a way my mentor. Would that he were alive today to contribute to these forums.

Regarding upwardly mobile progress from those not born of privelege who have made an impact we must not overlook the Portuguese who have by dearth of hard work and sacrifice been hugely successful, in a widely diversified field, not just the Fernance Perry's.

In the US such people get nominated for the Horatio Alger award, its a bit different for successful folk here.

[Onion on 16.05.05 at 15:40]

Bill,

I would very much like to read this book. His life definitely sounds inspiring.

[Onion on 16.05.05 at 15:58]

Gombey,

It such a pleasure to know you have found time from your busy schedule as moderator for Bermuda Forum for Free Spewing to drop in and say hello and reiterate to this blog that even challenged illiterates such as yourself should have their say.

Your email is exactly the reason why some of us write under pseudonymns. No, I am not Bryant Trew. The last time I checked Bryant Trew was writing columns under his own name in the Sun and on his own website. I am flattered however that you would confuse the two of us as he does write reasonably well, certainly well enough to be a bee in your bonnet and compel you to comment resentfully on how much $ you believe he is making at the bank. But I know how it goes. It is easy for someone like you to believe that only two people in Bermuda write such emails. What's funny is that you yourself are also writing under a pen-name. Are you Christian Dunleavy in disguise? Nah, he has an IQ. Are you Limey in disguise? Nope, he's got an IQ too. So I can only assume that gombey is your real name. It fits.

As for your comment that only whites built this country, I won't even dignify it with a response. However, as we have been talking about education on this blog, might I suggest you check into the Adult Education Centre (you are an adult aren't you?). I believe this month they are focusing on history. You might learn something. Let us know how it goes.