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We must know our neighbours

Lorna M. George. Photo: VINO/File
Lorna M. George

The [British] Virgin Islands is a melting pot. There are people from other Caribbean islands, North and South America, Canada, United Kingdom, Indians from India, Guyanese Indians, Chinese, Philipines etc. It is imperative that we know our neighbours if we are to love, appreciate and understand each other with our different cultures, customs and religious beliefs.

Virgin Islanders, it does not hurt to know some history about our extended family members. This surely will help us to understand their behaviour and how they think. Consequently, we can empathise with those who come to live among us.

During institutionalised segregation in America, White people were indoctrinated and brain washed to believe that they were superior to Black people. Blacks rode on the back seats of the public buses and had to stand to let Whites sit down if the bus was full. There were signs in public places that read “Whites only” and “Blacks only”, such as bathrooms and water fountains. Blacks were not allowed to eat in restaurants and the dreadful KKK lynched Black men for no reasons. Blacks were called the degrading name like nigger. Everything was done to make Whites feel superior and Blacks feel inferior. Such wicked and diabolic behaviour was the figment and illusion of the White man perception.

Racism in Guyana

From my research, I learned that most of the tension between blacks and Indians in Guyana stems from economics consideration long ago. When Guyana was under British control, Indians were given preferential treatment over Blacks so more Indians were able to raise to middle and upper classes. They were able to start businesses and become professionals. Black people did not have many opportunities to better themselves. So there was a lot of resentment between the people. The Black Guyanese and the Indian Guyanese don’t get along and they look down on each other. Dr Kean Gibson in his book, Racism and Degeneration in Guyana, wrote that there is racism and inequality in Guyana and Blacks are victimised.

In the [British] Virgin Islands from the country of Guyana in the Continent of South America we have Indian Guyanese with light skin and India Guyanese with Black skin tone, we also have the ‘Douglas’-a mix of Black and Indian parents. Most Indians are Hindus, some are Muslims and a small number is Christians. Of course we also have the Black Guyanese.

We are all equal in the VI

I would like to make it abundantly clear that in the Virgin Islands we do not believe the ignorance that White people are superior to black people nor do we fall for the ignorance that the Indian Guyanese is better than the Black Guyanese. Our country is a Christian society where we believe that all men are created equal regardless of the colour of their skin, nationality or ethnicity. We further ascribe to the fundamental that God made man from the dust of the ground and we are created in His image and likeness. It is only by learning about each other can we truly appreciate one another. My fellow Virgin Islanders do you realise how blessed we are; we grew up in a Black society ruled by a Black Government and did not have to endure such overt discrimination, prejudice and bigotry that our Black brothers and sisters in the United States and Guyana have endured.

Nature’s Little Secret is a unique society, and I hope it could remain this way where everyone is treated equally irrespective of his/her skin colour, nationality and ethnicity. We are one family, and God is our father; we should live together in harmony with dignity and respect.

Finally, according to Reverend Michael Curry in the impassionate sermon that he gave at the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, “When love is the way we would know that we are brothers and sisters and God is the source of us all.”

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