From a Bajan’s Facebook post on recent racism talks
A section of “Becoming Anti-Racist in Barbados: Q&A”, a resource list for ALL white or ‘pass-fuh-white’ Bajans, and other white people living in Barbados.
Reprinted with permission, but the publisher requested it not be linked to their name or facebook profile directly.
I wish all the companies and business owners popping up with supportive statements would also share the demographics, hiring levels, and payrolls for their workers.
Because equity is not about expressing your love. Black people do not need your love. We have families and significant others and close friends for that. We are already loved — and loved wholly and completely.
Some of the racism that has hurt me the most has had nothing to do with hatred. Hatred did not reduce me down to a mere statistic by paying me a fraction of what my equivalent collègue was making, and by putting me in the second author position when I’d done most of the data collection and writing. Indifference did that.
And a lot of the reinforcement of systemic racism comes from indifference. It is doing your best to focus on personal feeling and emotion — and centering the conversation on your own identity and “goodness” — in lieu of doing the actual hard-work of addressing what actually needs to be done for the people who work with and below you. It’s insisting that a dead body is a difference of perspective and politics and opinion.
So no, I don’t need anyone I know to make a big statement or change their picture. I don’t need anyone to make some political declaration, or put on shoes to march in the street or to the polls. I think a lot of those are empty gestures and know this — I have already seen you. I know exactly who and what you are. I know who has accessed the anti-racism resources I’ve shared…and who hasn’t.
But understand that unless you put some actual effort into unpicking the parts of systemic racism you have access to, then you are part of that problem. You are a part of the violence in the street and the boots on the necks of each Black person you claim to love. All you’re doing is going through the motions to dodge a label.
Racism — like love — is an action word. But it’s not a choice to hate. It’s a refusal to correct.
Other Sections
Frequently Heard Claims
- “Racism is more of an American issue…”
- “I’m white and I’m not wealthy, I don’t have white privilege…”
- “Slavery happened years ago, why can’t people get over it?”
- “I have Black family and friends etc. I’m not racist…”
- “As a ‘white minority’ I’ve experienced more racism than Black people…”
- “I don’t see colour… Why don’t we just spread positivity?”
- “It’s not about race, it’s about class issue etc.”
- “Indentured servants were slaves too!”
- “Black workers are lazy.”
- “If Black people would just spend their money more wisely they’d be more successful…”
- “My Black friends & family agree with me on this…”
- “Every race segregate and hire their relatives and friends, not just White people”
- “There are many Black people who have done very well for themselves”
- “All Lives Matter”
- “The Nelson Statue should stay, we can’t change history!”
- “ Having conversations about race in Barbados is divisive and will only stur up hatred and violence…”
Now I want to talk to all my Black friends and family about racism!
