Our poor history with Race

I had no intention of dealing with the topic of Race, at least this
week, but the ongoing issues over the last week have touched my
spirit.

Let me also thank a good friend of mine, who asked me to do her a
favor and asked if I could deal with the issue of race in this column,
at this time, in this space. I reluctantly agreed, because the issues
involved with race are complex, but resonate with those who carry
pigmentation in their skin.

The issues surrounding the death of George Floyd, represent yet
another incident where unnecessary force is being used for minor
alleged incidents. Four officers were needed to subdue a ‘big, bad,
threatening black man’ because as expected, the officers feared for
their lives.

I am still waiting on the lines ‘fearing for their safety’ or ‘out of
an abundance of caution’ to cover up ... yes I said it ... to cover up
what is yet another murder of an unarmed, non-threatening person of
colour on a city street in the United States.

Despite being in the media, I still am not shocked by the major
networks missing the point. They cover the death, because they know
the response will bring ratings.  The anchors act like they are
affected as they sit in their gilded quarters, watching the hunted act
‘uncivilized’. How quick were they willing to assume that the
protesters started looting in response when evidence has shown
otherwise? The underlying suggestion was that black people should
‘know their place’ and protest peacefully.

Those who argue that it is time for a discussion on race, must be
drinking some Kool-Aid. Dylann Roof killed several black people in a
historic church and he was treated with dignity and the suggestion was
that he was mentally ill.

Police officers killed unarmed people in South Carolina, Texas and
Missouri, and then George Zimmerman used the excuse of a law which is
biased against minority communities known as ‘Stand Your Ground’ to
murder Trayvon Martin, whose only crime was being black in a ‘good’
neighbourhood.

How much more can a national psyche take?  When it appears as though
police officers and a justice system protect their own, what rights do
the hunted have? Racist officers are being shielded while more
families are left broken as the perceived laws designed to be for all,
are covering for a few.

Those who advocate for peace have forgotten how change came to
America. The Boston Tea Party was not a ‘sit-in’ trying to convince
the British to please release America. It was a protest against
oppressive tax policies. The Civil War was to force one side’s will
over the other and to keep the Union together. These conflicts were
not peaceful.

So what should be the context of the racial debate and Barbados is not
immune to this. The law is not equal in how it is applied to those of
colour and we have instances daily of charged people being paraded
across court pages for a variety of charges. Equal justice would
demand that regardless of economic status, those charged should be
represented and presented to the public, with the requisite
protections under the law.

I have lived my whole life in this country and I have studied and
worked hard to achieve what I have so far. I have an Undergrad degree
and a Masters, yet when I visit a bank or supermarket, even retail
store, it seems as though I attract significant attention.

It always appears as though every time I look up, I see a security
guard looking in my direction. I spend significant sums at the
supermarket, or do decent transactions at my bank, but in my view, all
that is seen is a ‘tall black man’ walking throughout the
establishment. I am not unique in this. Should I feel threatened and
uneasy in my skin because of how the Lord made me? Should I feel happy
at being profiled?

It is akin to returning home (when we could travel) and having a
laptop and a work bag and being forced to be examined by Customs at
the airport. Despite being in the ‘Nothing to declare’ line, I, a
Barbadian citizen, was treated as though I was a potential risk, while
tourists with surfboards and significant luggage, got smiles and told
to ‘enjoy their stay’ in Barbados.

It is watching how we perpetuate the economic system where as people
of colour prop up an economic system which rewards others. Black
businesses struggle to get support from their peers, but we expect
black people to step up and develop businesses and wealth.

We have the cute acronym ‘BOSS’, which seeks to repurpose budgeted
wages and salaries for capital works. No indication of what those
works are, but rather than suspend a portion of the corporate tax
relief which Government gave to businesses, the Government has decided
to give cover to private businesses to trim up to 25% of their
workforce, with a fund to assist, but ask workers to take a pay-cut.

Why should civil servants take Government paper after those who have
debentures had to have their returns significantly cut upfront, but we
should trust government paper now?

We live in a society which is segmented. We live apart, with the only
saving grace that the younger generations mix and mingle more. Certain
areas in the island are separate, through gated communities. People of
colour find it more difficult to get reasonable interest rates on
critical loans to aid their development.

Time has not improved these realities and we have to stop fooling
ourselves. Race is the story of choice until something else comes up,
but the scars which were exposed by these incidents, showcase wounds
that are inter-generational and are not healing.