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Racial Reconciliation
by
Apostle Cedric Moss

There are some subjects we are not comfortable talking about. But the only way we will become comfortable is to talk about them. So today, I will talk about one…racial reconciliation. The very subject indicates a problem and a need. Some will question why I am raising this issue. For them it is not an issue. And to some extent I agree; racism in the Bahamas is not a problem in terms of racial violence and hostility…we are civilized about it. But we nonetheless have a serious racism problem and we will suffer as a nation until we have the courage to resolve it.

A Glaring Example
Earlier this year, I observed with interest the public discussion of The Hon. Brent Symonnette’s tentative bid to run for the position of leader of the Free National Movement (FNM). Newspaper articles, letters to the editors, online forums and talk shows all weighed in on the discussion for weeks leading up to the FNM’s convention. Considering the very real possibility of a party leader becoming prime minister, the discussion moved beyond Mr. Symonnette’s candidacy to the acceptability of a white person serving as prime minister of The Bahamas. The overwhelming majority of persons whose views I heard and read were against Mr. Symonnette or any white person being Prime Minister. In the discussion, the now defunct, predominantly white United Bahamian Party (UBP) and Mr. Symonnette’s familial link to it featured prominently.

The whole discussion confirmed my long held view which I put forward today: Beyond the surface unity in The Bahamas, the racial divide in our nation is very real, even in churches and among those who profess to follow Jesus Christ. Sadly, Mr. Symonnette did not offer as a candidate for leader of the party. I say sadly for no other reason than the fact that I believe the race issue played a significant role in his decision and it should not have.

A Closer Look
One of the obvious evidences of our racial problem is that black Bahamians across party lines, including Mr. Symonnette’s own party, the FNM, were (and no doubt still are) unanimous in their view that they will not support him or any white person as prime minister of The Bahamas.

Some even threatened leaving their party if a white leader is ever elected. This begs an obvious question: Why is it that black Bahamians generally across ALL political lines still strongly object to the idea of a white Bahamian leading this country in the highest office of Prime Minister, without even knowing (or caring to know) his or her qualifications for the job? Having closely looked at it, I offer one-word answer...racism.

On the other hand, why is it that, apart from the Hon. Brent Symonnette’s tentative exploration, white Bahamians in our nation will not openly entertain the thought of leading this country in the highest office of Prime Minister? Again, although I risk sounding redundant, I offer one-word answer...racism.

Missed Opportunities
Consider our nation’s dark years of racial discrimination and economic oppression by minority whites against majority blacks. Although the victory of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) brought majority rule and changed open discrimination and oppression, no real national efforts were made to bring about racial reconciliation between blacks and whites. Actually, instead of choosing the national good and pursuing racial reconciliation between blacks and whites, the existing racial division was used by some in the PLP as a political tool and it only served to embellish the divide. They missed opportunities for racial reconciliation that would have been so appropriate in the aftermath of the 1967 elections.

I can still recall the effect movies like "Roots" had on my own thinking. Even though such movies did not influence me politically they did affect me racially and I unashamedly acknowledge that I at times had hatred for whites because, to me, their colour made them guilty of the enslavement and exploitation of blacks. Thankfully, my hatred normally did not last longer than the “Roots” mini series. I later learned that without the cooperation and direct involvement of blacks in the slave trade, whites could not have enslaved us.

Chicken or Egg
Who should lead the process of racial reconciliation? Should whites confess and ask for forgiveness or should blacks unilaterally forgive? Thank God that Jesus did not take that view on the cross. Even as he was being crucified, he asked the Father to forgive those crucifying him so he obviously had forgiven them. We just need to start, so it really does not matter who initiates. One pre-requisite is we all need to humble ourselves.

Click here for Part 2 (http://www.bahamasissues.com/showthread.php?threadid=542)



Apostle Cedric Moss serves as Senior Pastor at Kingdom Life World Outreach Centre. Comments and feedback may be directed to: apostle@kingdom-life.org (apostle@kingdom-life.org).

You are right! Racism never left this country. It just changes it’s colour!

You are right! Racism never left this country. It just changes it’s colour!
CG:
Do you mean changes or changed? If you do mean "changes", please explain. Come to think of it, please explain either way.

CG:
Do you mean changes or changed? If you do mean "changes", please explain. Come to think of it, please explain either way.Sorry! Typo! Should have been "changed."

In the light of this let me explain. The PLP rode to power on a stream of racism. It is a popular myth that they wanted equal rights. What they wanted was their rights! Who can really blame them? But it was done, not with love, as popular myth would have it but by racism, a racism equal to, or more so, than that of the whites they replaced. (Don’t forget Sir Milo’s speech, "The streets will run red with white blood!")

The PLP was born on racial disharmony. The "old" PLP did all it could to keep it alive. They needed that racism to keep the voters, voting - for them. The constant running of the "Roots" mini series shows that. The new PLP - well, fortunately, they have not done much of anything. But I can tell you this, as a white person. When the old PLP was in power, it was not unusual for me, and other white people to be on the receiving end of racial comments. When the FNM came to power these insults were reduced to a trickle. Now the "new" PLP is in power the tap has been turned on, full force once again. The PLP needs racism. It is their stock in trade. That is why few white people trust or believe them and few black people would vote for a white PM. The PLP did to "good" a job.

It is time we realize something that the white people, and the black people of today must understand. We are one! Our colour is only the outward garment. Inside we are all brothers. If we could work together, we would be unstoppable! But I doubt it can be done under a PLP government - it is not their way! So we will have to work around them. I support your efforts!

Hi Cedric Wow you have actually said something I agree with you on.



Let me tell you a story. When I was in my late 20s. I came across a woman on the side of the road with a flat tire it was in the morning. I pulled over and asked if I could help. She said yes. So talking while working she told me of the countless black men that walked and drove past her. She said she would have never believed it if she had not experienced this for her self. A white man (before I knew why I felt the way I am) got his hands dirty helping me a black woman. She then wanted to give me money I told her I stopped to help not to work call it chivalry. She said then you are a white knight. I responded sorry I don’t accept that title I held out my hand and said what color blood do I have she said red. I asked her what color blood does she have she said red. I said the color of skin means nothing you needed help I could give the help you needed and I did so. If you want to call me your knight that’s ok.

I'm encouraged to hear it, Vicky. I'm glad to hear a white person echo the need for racial reconciliation.

You raise another point that is so prevalent in our country...indifference and a lack of caring. I have seen countless times where people are standed in a vehicle for various reasons and uncaring motorists either pass them straight without enquiry or curse at them or honk their horns.

Like you, I too try to always make it a point to stop and help any way that I can and if its more than a flat or purchasing some gas, I can't because I don't know much about engines! But I've also been amazed at the gratitude of the people...not because I did a huge favour but because out of hundreds of motorists, I stopped.

[QUOTE
You raise another point that is so prevalent in our country...indifference and a lack of caring. I have seen countless times where people are standed in a vehicle for various reasons and uncaring motorists either pass them straight without enquiry or curse at them or honk their horns.
QUOTE]


The times i have reached out to help somebody, it mostly was appreciated. But i have also been scammed for reaching out, so now i do not do that anymore.

PS maybe PLP should have a white candidate next time for prime minister, to show how flexible the Bahamians are.

Ostrom

Though I agree with most of what CG says, it is hard for me to bring myself to believe that the "new" PLP will be as racist as the former PLP. In these enlightened times when the world is getting smaller, when almost every day we are confronted with all kinds of issues some of which we can't seem to solve, it would be unadulterated stupidity for the PLP to continue with this racist foolishness. I believe that if the former PLP had not pushed the racist card so hard, but had instead tried to promote healing the racial wounds, the Bahamas would have been free from racial problems! I am black, and I used to find it shocking to find young black Bahamians with hatred for white Bahamians. And believe you me I used to get into many heated arguments when I told them their attitudes were wrong. Many times when the argunments would get almost to the point of blows, I would ask them, "If you needed some cash urgently, who do you think would more readily loan you the money, a rich white Bahamian, or a rich black Bahamian?" The answer would always be the white Bahamian! I used to find this very strange. They couldn't say why they hated someone who would help them more readily than one of their own colour. I believe this was because of the strong racial hatred the old PLP used to preach!

But I just hope and pray that the racial wounds would be healed soon. As CG has said, we are all one people. Let us live that way in love and unity.

Great Demos

.......it is hard for me to bring myself to believe that the "new" PLP will be as racist as the former PLP......Let us pray, that you are right! But I see too much of the "old" in the "new."



.......As CG has said, we are all one people. Let us live that way in love and unity.OK, Great Demos, that is two of us! You said that you agreed with "most" of what I wrote. Can you tell me what you did not agree with? I would be interested to know.

I'm encouraged to hear it, Vicky. I'm glad to hear a white person echo the need for racial reconciliation.

You raise another point that is so prevalent in our country...indifference and a lack of caring. I have seen countless times where people are standed in a vehicle for various reasons and uncaring motorists either pass them straight without enquiry or curse at them or honk their horns.

Like you, I too try to always make it a point to stop and help any way that I can and if its more than a flat or purchasing some gas, I can't because I don't know much about engines! But I've also been amazed at the gratitude of the people...not because I did a huge favour but because out of hundreds of motorists, I stopped.
Not just racial but human reconciliation.

Forgive me CG for not answering before now. From a factual point of view, it could well be that your stance is more factual than mine, because the slight disagreement I have with you could well be my own personal view.

You see, when the old PLP first gained power I really got the impression that they wanted equal rights, etc, -- that they wanted the best for this country and its people. At first, I think they had a very good philosophy, one that could have made us the best little nation on earth! But after a time (was it about 2 or 3 years?), it seems that somehow they got carried away. I think it was around the time the late Cecil Wallace Whitfield and 7 others got fed up with the way the PLP was governing (remember the dissident 8?), and they jumped down from the PLP to form another party.

Instinctively at that point I knew something had gone seriously wrong with the PLP. When 8 of the leading members of an organization quit like that, something had to have been wrong! I could be wrong, but I believe that it was around this same time that they started showing Roots and those other racial movies before bye and general elections. It seemed that somehow they realised they had power and influence, etc, and they perhaps felt like they were God's gift to the world! Look how badly they treated the late Carlton Francis, one of their own faithful members.

It is said that he was even allowed to die a pauper because of his stance on gambling. Mr Francis was a gentleman and one of the most academically educated Bahamian of his time.

So CG, that is about the extent of my disagreement with you. It is not a fundamental disagreement. It is just that at the outset, I believe that the old PLP meant well.

Great Demos

Forgive me CG for not answering before now. From a factual point of view, it could well be that your stance is more factual than mine, because the slight disagreement I have with you could well be my own personal view.

You see, when the old PLP first gained power I really got the impression that they wanted equal rights, etc, -- that they wanted the best for this country and its people. At first, I think they had a very good philosophy, one that could have made us the best little nation on earth! But after a time (was it about 2 or 3 years?), it seems that somehow they got carried away. I think it was around the time the late Cecil Wallace Whitfield and 7 others got fed up with the way the PLP was governing (remember the dissident 8?), and they jumped down from the PLP to form another party.

Instinctively at that point I knew something had gone seriously wrong with the PLP. When 8 of the leading members of an organization quit like that, something had to have been wrong! I could be wrong, but I believe that it was around this same time that they started showing Roots and those other racial movies before bye and general elections. It seemed that somehow they realised they had power and influence, etc, and they perhaps felt like they were God's gift to the world! Look how badly they treated the late Carlton Francis, one of their own faithful members.

It is said that he was even allowed to die a pauper because of his stance on gambling. Mr Francis was a gentleman and one of the most academically educated Bahamian of his time.

So CG, that is about the extent of my disagreement with you. It is not a fundamental disagreement. It is just that at the outset, I believe that the old PLP meant well.

Great DemosGreat Demos, I am in agreement with you when you said , " when the old PLP first gained power I really got the impression that they wanted equal rights, etc, -- that they wanted the best for this country and its people." I think so too. I also think that, that was the impression most of those who supported the PLP had.

I also believe that the old PLP was sincere, at least in the beginning, but something went badly wrong. Whatever the "badly wrong" was, the PLP chose to use racism as a tool to cover up and to use it as a vote getter! It is an easy tool to use. The only draw back to using it is, you have to hope the audience is dumb enough to believe it - and it was (Mostly.) Let us hope that the audience has matured some! (I see some hope!)