I'm watching a show on societal class and it made me think about this in the Bahamian perspective. The show was discussing how people who fall into these different classes are treated, how they view themselves, and how they view others in different socioeconomic classes, as well as how people in the different classes raise their children.

The show also discussed how the gap between the rich and the poor is widening.

This is not unqiue to us, but here in the Bahamas I notice that...

1. We are increasingly evaluating ourselves and others by the cars we drive, the houses we live in, where we live, etc. We treat the upper class people with more respect and we feel more important if they seem to esteem us in one way or another.

2. We evaluate persons by dialect (those who speak the queen's english are assumed to be smarter or more refined and are listened to more), when on the flip side those of us who speak "proper english" get accused of "talking or acting white."

3. More and more children in schools are being ostracized by their peers over their apperance of status, even though we pride ourselves in trying to level that playing field by requiring that all students wear uniforms.

4. Policy is often created based on the opinions and needs of the upper/middle class. When "consultation" occurs, rarely if ever is the lower class opinion valued or even targeted.

5. Parents, especially single parents, put themselves in enormous debt trying to buy clothes and games, etc for their children so that it can appear that they (the parents) have more resources than he or she actually has. Then the kids begin to associate self-worth with material things.

One of the experts on the show explained that people are becoming more and more sensitive about who is above them and who is below them and that people feel better when they know they have another group of people to look down on.

Its an interesting task indeed to truly evaluate the role of class in the Bahamas, and how it affects the way we see ourselves and eachother.

Also, what role do you think the widening gap between the "haves" and "have-nots" in the Bahamas could play in a further deterioration of social stability?

I'm watching a show on societal class and it made me think about this in the Bahamian perspective. The show was discussing how people who fall into these different classes are treated, how they view themselves, and how they view others in different socioeconomic classes, as well as how people in the different classes raise their children.
The show also discussed how the gap between the rich and the poor is widening.
This is not unqiue to us, but here in the Bahamas I notice that...
1. We are increasingly evaluating ourselves and others by the cars we drive, the houses we live in, where we live, etc. We treat the upper class people with more respect and we feel more important if they seem to esteem us in one way or another.
2. We evaluate persons by dialect (those who speak the queen's english are assumed to be smarter or more refined and are listened to more), when on the flip side those of us who speak "proper english" get accused of "talking or acting white."
3. More and more children in schools are being ostracized by their peers over their apperance of status, even though we pride ourselves in trying to level that playing field by requiring that all students wear uniforms.
4. Policy is often created based on the opinions and needs of the upper/middle class. When "consultation" occurs, rarely if ever is the lower class opinion valued or even targeted.
5. Parents, especially single parents, put themselves in enormous debt trying to buy clothes and games, etc for their children so that it can appear that they (the parents) have more resources than he or she actually has. Then the kids begin to associate self-worth with material things.
One of the experts on the show explained that people are becoming more and more sensitive about who is above them and who is below them and that people feel better when they know they have another group of people to look down on.
Its an interesting task indeed to truly evaluate the role of class in the Bahamas, and how it affects the way we see ourselves and eachother.

Hey, these are some very good points you are raising, Nationbuilder!

Though I don't attach much importance to this business of race, class, discrimination, etc, I believe in trying to write and speak good English in certain situations. [eg. At the company I retired from, as part of my job, I had to write many letters to headquarters and other international branches. I didn't know that my manager was reading just about all of those letters during my frist 6 months of employment. But one day he called me into his office and gave me a substantial salary increase -- he said it was because of my command of the English Language -- I think that was nice!].

I like to associate with people who are humble, intelligent and assertive (NOT aggressive!). Also, the so-called street-smart persons...I just like these peolple, don't care whether they can read or write, I will always give them credit for intelligence, as I have found some of them to be very talented and gifted and have learned some of the best and most important lessons in life from some of these folks.

The standard I use to govern myself by and to evaluate others is the following, taken from St Paul's epistle to the Philippians chapter 2, verse 3: "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind LET EACH ESTEEM OTHERS BETTER THAN HIMSELF."

I believe that if people would try to live according to high moral standards, prepare themselves for whatever trade or profession they desire and have good self esteem, they should be able to hold their heads high and walk in honesty and integrity at all times and be successful in this life!

Regarding the situation of the widening gap between the rich and the poor, I think this is going to be the most difficult thing to improve in the Bahamas, because it seems that we have this ingrained nature of not wanting to take advice from others who have more experience in areas in which they are genuinely trying to help us. I hope we would soon improve in this aspect of the matter.

I believe that if people would try to live according to high moral standards, prepare themselves for whatever trade or profession they desire and have good self esteem, they should be able to hold their heads high and walk in honesty and integrity at all times and be successful in this life!

Sadly more and more of us are either abondoning or shunning the ideal of work ethic for a quick buck. One of my cousins is in jail in the U.S now for importing drugs ova dere.

He never wanted to work..would go on the man's job and stay there for about two weeks, coming late and leaving eary every day, just so he could bling off the watches and eat steak and lobster every day.

Them watches and surf 'n turf sure aint helpin him now.

Sadly more and more of us are either abondoning or shunning the ideal of work ethic for a quick buck. One of my cousins is in jail in the U.S now for importing drugs ova dere.
He never wanted to work..would go on the man's job and stay there for about two weeks, coming late and leaving eary every day, just so he could bling off the watches and eat steak and lobster every day.
Them watches and surf 'n turf sure aint helpin him now.

Yeah its very sad when things like that happen. What is puzzling to me is that I cant seem to put a finger on what are the real reasons why some people dont want to work for an honest living! Cant they understand that if they are involved in things illegal there is a good chance they will wind up in jail and mess up their reputation? Try as I may, the only answer I can come up with is that these are "signs of the times".

I know a young man who is in prison in the US now for drugs also. I think he has a long stretch. He used to be a very good worker but somehow got involved in bad company.

Sadly more and more of us are either abondoning or shunning the ideal of work ethic for a quick buck. One of my cousins is in jail in the U.S now for importing drugs ova dere.
He never wanted to work..would go on the man's job and stay there for about two weeks, coming late and leaving eary every day, just so he could bling off the watches and eat steak and lobster every day.
Them watches and surf 'n turf sure aint helpin him now.
That is the sad result of a materialistic mindset many young people share today.It seems the "icing" on the cake of life,is more important to them than the cake itself.Too bad.

I'm watching a show on societal class and it made me think about this in the Bahamian perspective. The show was discussing how people who fall into these different classes are treated, how they view themselves, and how they view others in different socioeconomic classes, as well as how people in the different classes raise their children.
The show also discussed how the gap between the rich and the poor is widening.
This is not unqiue to us, but here in the Bahamas I notice that...
1. We are increasingly evaluating ourselves and others by the cars we drive, the houses we live in, where we live, etc. We treat the upper class people with more respect and we feel more important if they seem to esteem us in one way or another.
2. We evaluate persons by dialect (those who speak the queen's english are assumed to be smarter or more refined and are listened to more), when on the flip side those of us who speak "proper english" get accused of "talking or acting white."
3. More and more children in schools are being ostracized by their peers over their apperance of status, even though we pride ourselves in trying to level that playing field by requiring that all students wear uniforms.
4. Policy is often created based on the opinions and needs of the upper/middle class. When "consultation" occurs, rarely if ever is the lower class opinion valued or even targeted.
5. Parents, especially single parents, put themselves in enormous debt trying to buy clothes and games, etc for their children so that it can appear that they (the parents) have more resources than he or she actually has. Then the kids begin to associate self-worth with material things.
One of the experts on the show explained that people are becoming more and more sensitive about who is above them and who is below them and that people feel better when they know they have another group of people to look down on.
Its an interesting task indeed to truly evaluate the role of class in the Bahamas, and how it affects the way we see ourselves and eachother.

well it seems to me that everything is getting worse...so what should we do?

Im mad this thread didnt get as much play as ellis or something else though...this is what we really should be talking about.

Also, what role do you think the widening gap between the "haves" and "have-nots" in the Bahamas could play in a further deterioration of social stability?

it will exasperate all our societal ills...more sweethearts- invariably moreoutside children, more aids and other std's, more domestic violence, crime will triple; robberies will come full circle of some sorts, IMO, westridge, cable beach, PI, winton, camperdown, lyford cay, coral harbour..will get robbed like you een neva see.

A govt system that gives a sh1t can go a long way in curbing this if a productive education system,
a working social services,
and a
a "dept" of youth services that is caring for and about the youth
must come togehter and act and work.


a christian church doing God's work would be the icing ont he cake too, this is where BCC would come in. ;)


what's the name of this documentary, where can I see it?

Im mad this thread didnt get as much play as ellis or something else though...this is what we really should be talking about.

I know you are right about that girlfriend! Cuz while these "big named" preachers get richer, their congregations are still scrapping to make ends meet.

But back to the thread itself...I have thought about this too - how to change the tide of materialism. Now class-ism is as old as civilisation I suppose, so changing that is not something I cant even begin to conceptualise..but the tide of materialism in our nation definetely needs to be stemmed.

what's the name of this documentary, where can I see it?

Well actually it was an Oprah show lol, and a very good one at that I might add.

Well actually it was an Oprah show lol, and a very good one at that I might add.

lol...after the show? with the rich kid who made the documentary? I think he was a johnson lotion heir...I think I can order the transcript. I went to school with a girl whose family owned burrell transcripts.

oh the irony of you always saying lotioning and what ywere talking baout now...

lol...after the show? with the rich kid who made the documentary? I think he was a johnson lotion heir...I think I can order the transcript. I went to school with a girl whose family owned burrell transcripts.
oh the irony of you always saying lotioning and what ywere talking baout now...

no it was the show itself actually, it wasnt after the show. The young heir wasnt the subject of the show itself..he just appeared on it briefly.

no it was the show itself actually, it wasnt after the show. The young heir wasnt the subject of the show itself..he just appeared on it briefly.

saw the after the show...and it delved a bit into the dynamics of black people and this racially polarized world...it was rather interesting. I dont know if it will play again though...it is getting close to the new season so Im not sure.

one day I wanna go see her show...I had a friend from undergrad on there (her mom named her after barbara streisand...she's a cool chick...and I saw a girl I know in the audience at that wedding show...man I wanna go so bad! especially to the christmas freebie show! (forgive my tangent)

girly have you heard about noah's arc...my god. and I did was do a wikipedia search of teedra moses and that's what I got...I wasnt expecting it!

it will exasperate all our societal ills...
Tru. But it still goes to how people see themselves based on what they have or dont have.

Notice how we carry shame if we have a "less than fly" item and someone notices it. We try to hide that item, be it a car, a piece of clothing or whatever because we connect that thing to our identity and sense of worth.

saw the after the show...and it delved a bit into the dynamics of black people and this racially polarized world...it was rather interesting. I dont know if it will play again though...it is getting close to the new season so Im not sure.
one day I wanna go see her show...I had a friend from undergrad on there (her mom named her after barbara streisand...she's a cool chick...and I saw a girl I know in the audience at that wedding show...man I wanna go so bad! especially to the christmas freebie show! (forgive my tangent)
girly have you heard about noah's arc...my god. and I did was do a wikipedia search of teedra moses and that's what I got...I wasnt expecting it!

Hey! i was up late one Saturday, and I started watching that - I was so shocked after the first episode (afterall, irs not everyday you see big-*** grown black men behaving that way!), but I have to say...strangely enough, I was hooked! I ended up watching 4 episodes in a row (until like 3am) and even knew the characters by the end...it kind of felt like an 'urban version' of Sex and the City - with males only! weird:what: