Comments on: Looking in the Mirror

By: Dwayne

Dwayne — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:09:33 +0000

Well said, Will. I am a Bahamian. An unquestionably black Bahamian. I am also a musician, trained in the European classical tradition. I listen to, and perform European classical music, as well as other genres, including recognized “Bahamian” music. As a result of this, many of my friends and associates are Caucasian, many expatriate. There are those in our community who see this as ’social climbing’, as though an association with white persons somehow confers superior social status. As Bahamians, our National identity has been influenced by multiple cultures in our communities. We ought to embrace them all. ONE BAHAMAS!

By: sher

sher — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:40:13 +0000

Excellent article. I came across this while researching on menthal slavery for an essay i have to write. I must say i can relate to what you have stated as it’s not only in Bahamas but also in Jamaica as well. I share your views as i remeber growing up and was constantly based at school as a dun dus or white man pickney. Funny enough both my parents are black.

By: Will

Will — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:42:27 +0000

You are plural. Identities are not mutually exclusive, they are fluid and transient, Enjoy and celebrate the vast range of identities you can claim in different times and spaces.

By: Justin Minns

Justin Minns — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 03:45:03 +0000

I’m a mixed heritage Bahamian myself. I was born in Nassau and my family has since relocated to Exuma. I came to Canada to study and have been here off and on ever since. I met someone at the Bahamian consulate house in Ottawa who forwarded this site to me. Very interesting. I have had a similar experience with identity issues due to skin color myself. I often found it confusing and sometimes unsettling growing up. Later though I decided that the problem wasn’t mine… it was an issue for the people who were struggling to determine my status/label based on something totally arbitrary, my skin color.I stopped worrying about it because, as I see it, if my skin color somehow affects how someone sees me as a person, then they are probably not worth dealing with on any meaningful level. I’ve been proud and happy with myself as a Bahamian/Canadian ever since

By: o.korie

o.korie — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 02:21:47 +0000

I’m Bahamian, black,but grow up in US since age 10…its hard to fit in. Blacks/whites/latins see me as a N, but I don’t. Great post

By: main slave

main slave — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:18:42 +0000

@Biata – Yes. Education is useful. But don’t ignore the systemic causes of the problems that black people face. Especially in the US. I’d recommend you read “The Debt” by Randall Robinson. He really breaks down a lot of the hidden barriers that black people still face today.

Also worth reading is something on the phenomenon of White Privilege. Tim Wise is a good author to check out, partly because he is white himself.

By: earl

earl — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 07:32:56 +0000

great article, i came across it researching the topic for my show number 2. Mental slavery in Black America.

Thanks I enjoyed your article.

By: Biata

Biata — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:07:07 +0000

This is awesome. I stumbled upon this website at 1:30 am EST because I was awakened by the thought of combating Mental Slavery with education of african ancestry. I am not sure of it {African Ancestry} myself. But I am sure that when I observe African Americans, in particular, the perpetuation of the social, political, and economical issues plaguing the ethnic group seems to be related to the lack of education. So it seems to me that one obvious way to combat the ignorance is to bring not only awareness, but identity to Black people through education.

By: Celucien Joseph

Celucien Joseph — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 05:04:24 +0000

Great post!

By: haitianministries

haitianministries — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:16:56 +0000

“I have inadvertently asked a few white Bahamians ’so, where are you from?’ It’s polite conversation with a tourist but it’s the surest, most direct way to insult a native.”

Yeah, no kidding! Unless somebody is conspicuously dressed like a tourist or has a distinctive Rock Sound accent, I generally can’t tell the difference between a white Bahamian and a white North American either. Thus, I’ve found it’s best to just assume that all white folks in the Bahamas are white Bahamians and greet them as such. Better to error on the side of too Bahamian . . .

Great post, very informative! I’ve provided a link for my own readers.