Toni Daniels & Opposition On “Real Bermudians”
“I’m a mixed-race Bermudian. Sometimes that gives me insight into the racial situation in Bermuda that others might not have,” said former OBA Senator Toni Daniels [pictured] in a recent opinion column.
“Here’s one of those insights for you: There are blacks and there are whites, sure, but the real struggle is between what people see as real Bermudians and pretend Bermudians.
“Real Bermudians are black. They live in black neighbourhoods, their children go to public school, their partners are other real Bermudians, they don’t go away to school or university, they belong to the union, and they support the Progressive Labour Party.
“You can still be a real Bermudian if you don’t make the grade in one or two of those categories, but the more you stray from the criteria, the harder it is. Only real Bermudians can be the judges of who is and who is not a real Bermudian.
“If you fail to meet the criteria and you don’t get special exemption, you’re a surrogate, you’re a puppet, you’re a suspect or a fake. You don’t have the right to judge what’s good for Bermuda and real Bermudians.
“Pretend Bermudians can apply for special exemption, but are only considered if they denounce whatever doubtful group with which they were once aligned. All those whites and others of whatever colour who join the PLP are probationary real Bermudians, but could be demoted back to pretend Bermudian rank if they fail in any way to demonstrate their Bermudian-ness regularly.
“White Bermudians? That’s a contradiction in terms.
“I know all this real Bermudian/pretend Bermudian stuff is a little like mist. It disappears when you try to touch it. But I think most people know what I’m talking about. I think people know that in politics –especially at election time – it comes out from wherever it hides, and it can make a difference.
“Is it legitimate? Is there really a difference between real Bermudians and pretend Bermudians?
“Of course not. It’s a notion that fails on every front – historically, legally, ethically, and in any other way you care to look at it. But it exists.
“I’m a One Bermuda Alliance supporter, and it comes at us all the time. The Opposition PLP craft their objections to what we are doing on the basis that we are a pretend Bermudian party and they are a real Bermudian party.
“If you read the articles written by PLP writers, you will see that many of their arguments are based on the fiction that the OBA doesn’t care about real Bermudians. The OBA’s work is in aid of benefitting people other than real Bermudians, they say.
“If you listen to the talk shows, you will hear from some people who quite obviously buy into that line. They don’t care how much work the OBA does, they don’t care how much our work helps Bermuda, they don’t care how much success we have in rebuilding the country… really, they don’t care to be bothered with the facts at all.
“To the extent that they recognize the economy was driven to the brink of failure by the PLP, they overlook or excuse the failure because it happened in the effort to help real Bermudians.
“This is a tragedy.
“It means there is a group of people in Bermuda ready to believe anything or look passed anything as long as it comes from “the right people”.
“Sometimes it seems to me that Bermuda is like a wounded bird…hopping slowly forwards, but all the time having to drag a broken wing behind it. Will we ever be able to move forward together?
In response a PLP spokesperson said, “The OBA have developed a very disturbing pattern of behavior. Whenever one of their promises are broken, or whenever they are caught taking care of their friends, family, the elite and privileged, they do one of three things.
“They either find some way to blame it on the PLP, start a rousing chorus of kumbaya [which to the OBA means fulfilling the dream of a Bermuda where everyone goes along with whatever foolishness they propose] or attempt to use race as a distraction.
“In the midst of serious allegations surrounding cronyism, back room deals and Jetgate, no one should be surprised that the OBA is once again trying to distract from the real issues facing Bermudians. The PLP however will not be distracted or deterred from speaking out for Bermudians. All Bermudians.
“Bermudians of all races are hurt by the OBA’s failure to produce a jobs plan that benefits Bermudians first
“Bermudians of all races are hurt by the skyrocketing increases in jobs losses under the OBA
“Bermudians of all races would have been hurt if the OBA scheme to give the right to work to expat children had not been defeated
“Bermudians of all races are hurt when the OBA breaks promises and deceives the people of Bermuda
“The OBA benefits from maintaining a racial divide that sees them receive near unanimous support from the white community. They benefit when they make Bermudians believe that their fellow countrymen are somehow less reasoning, less rational and less human than their fellow Bermudians. The divide is one that they benefit from and as we have seen over the years, will exploit to keep themselves in power.
“The OBA is out of touch, out of ideas and Bermudians can no longer wait for them to get their act together. Too much is at stake. The PLP have offered new ideas and real solutions top get Bermudians back to work, expand opportunity and build a fairer, more equitable Bermuda that puts Bermudians first. The OBA opposes that and Bermudians deserve better.”
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Articles that link to this one:
- Opinion: Marc Daniels On ‘Real Bermudians’ | Bernews.com | April 29, 2014
- Opinion: Chris Famous On “Real Bermudians” | Bernews.com | May 1, 2014
Ok what in the hell is she going on about? First the boyfriend thing now this????? Toni please please please get someone to proof read and change your words before you put something out there smh
Why? I hear it everyday on the radio and what not.
You even have PLP supporters, attending town hall meetings, shouting at a particular Minister that he is only a ‘paper Bermudian’ and that his opinion somehow is of less value than theirs.
Just because you decide to stick your fingers in your ears and pretend like it isn’t happening, doesn’t mean its not.
You can be a great defender of her if you wish but she is talking alot of bullssh in this letter
What “boyfriend thing” are you talking about?
the the other letter she wrote about boyfriend just google it or search for it on here
Sounds like she’s ashamed to be a Black Bermudian and wants to denounce everything that is black associated. I guess Tiger Woods aint de only one.
Miscegenation is a B1tch !!!!!!!!!!!!!
What does the PLP mean when it talks about ‘real Bermudians’?
Toni is “proud to be a Bermudian”. There was a song with the same chorus. Where did she denouce Black?
You are making things up again to suit your personal political agenda.
Sounds like she hit the nail on the head with regards to how you look at people…
Who is the “you” you are referring to?
I was replying to “Steve Biko”… so… um… him.
How was that not clear?
Careful mike, your truth may come shining through !!!
My truth is plainly evident for all to see.
I’m not the one quivering behind the hood of anonymity.
I know you desperately want to denounce me, but you have to ask yourself this question:
If the truth is so bad, why do you constantly have to lie?
This comin from you mike, a white bermudian, no offense.
Well done, making her point.
Believing someone is inferior to you, even morally, because of their race.
That’s racist, “Robert”.
Do better.
Expand that thought a bit Mike,
I believe it is more truth to say that black people believe that white people are superior, and for good reason: history (1500s-present) glorifies white people.
It is pretty pathetic to use the idea of the segregation of privileged Bermudians by “real Bermudians” as a way to deal with ones personal discomforts. Do we really think that the only way to be a “Real Bermudian” is to be poor, black and uneducated? A better question would be, do you really believe that is a position that should be defended?
That said, I believe Robert’s point was based on cultural norms, not inferiority. The white and black cultures in Bermuda differ drastically.
I agree somewhat with your first bit and would love to have a real, honest conversation about it and maybe work towards addressing the problem and maybe take a look at how to start looking at finding a solution.
Having said that, no one honest is saying that believing that a “real Bermudian” is any of these things is a defendable position. That’s the whole point of the piece.
However, Robert’s point was based solely on his need to insult me because I dare speak out against hypocrisy and lies and false propaganda.
Read down the page to see more of his “points”.
Enough of this black vs white, white vs black. Can we just all work together. Toni can you let me know when the 3000 + jobs are coming or when we going to have the tourist loads Bermuda had in the UBP days.
Didn’t the consultant tell you to stay off the topic white vs black. This does nothing to move the country foward. All this does is open up old wounds. What next you going to talk about the 1960s. People want jobs jobs jobs!!!!
OOOOHHHHHH I get it you’re embarrassed that you are not fully white to be accepted in the “Pure Race” club and have ties with de undesirables !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You’ve made up a whole little world in your head, haven’t you?
So much hate. It’s sad.
She’s not “ashamed” to be black. I have no idea how any literate person can read her article and come to that conclusion. She starts off the whole article by stating that she is mixed race, including black. It’s hard to interpret that to mean she is ashamed of anything.
Did you bother reading it?
@Steve Biko. You do realize that you are an example of what she is talking about. Does that make you feel a little uncomfortable?
She’s only saying what most people are afraid to voice.
Well sorry to tell you Toni but you fit in teh catergory of a sellout, other etc.. and your views fall on deaf ears.
You just proved her right…and my ears are wide open
People with fingers in their ears are not deaf Alvin.
What’s a “sellout”? Someone who is black but doesn’t support the PLP?
Wow, thats dumb !!!!
She’s a sell out (whatever you mean by that) for telling the truth.
This is utter racist trash. I cannot believe it was posted in public. This is hateful, racist propoganda and egocentric nonsense.
How dare you try to claim anti-racism and racial unity in the same hand as this racist slander? So whites are not Bermudian?
My family has been in the island for 400 years, since the first boats landed here. I am white. Do you have a problem with that? Am I a “pretend Bermudian”?
Whites discovered, founded, settled, and brought Bermuda up to what it was. How dare you say that whites are not real Bermudians. Your insinuiation we are “pretend” Bermudians is despicable, and sickening. And half of the slaves and indentured servants in our island were various races of whites from around the world.So you cannot make that claim.
You have truly defined yourself as a person, and I pray to God you do not teach children the vile poison of separation you utter here.
It is sad that since Martin Luther King gave his speech and died fighting for true human equality, that some people still have division and polarity in their minds, only allowing them to see a racist view of reality. Of course, most racists are hypocrites, and blind to their own faults. Hence the ego.
Real Bermudians are people who are born on the island of Bermuda. If you have a problem with understanding that, you should go seek a form of counselling.
Being a real Bermudian also means supporting our historical heritage, and not bastardizing it with a new and ignorant culture of materialism.
In conclusion, such racism has no place in modern society, and it is literally spitting in the face of Martin Luther King and the whole racial equality movement. It is unfathomable that someone of office would have the nerve to make such hateful, racist public statements and be proud of it.
Bermudians are black, white, portugese, asian, latino, indeed every race. Why? BECAUSE YOUR COUNTRY IS NOT DEFINED BY YOUR SKIN COLOUR, UNLIKE HOW A RACIST WOULD HAVE YOU BELIVE!
Racism fills the ears and minds of the youth, and they become tainted by this and brainwashed, and grow up to hate the other race they were indoctrinated about. This only perpetuates the racial hatred.
You cannot talk unity while pointing out division!
GET IT RIGHT!
And that is her entire point… Keep up
Architect, if you actually read what she said she’s just being brave enough to say what a lot of people have known for years. In the eyes of a very significant percentage of the Bermudian populace, the only “real Bermudians” are black PLP supporters (not so sure about the going away to college bit). That comes across loud and clear if you listen to the callers on the talk shows.
Grand architects of the universe ?????? You sound like a freemason !!
It is the devil who divides, and it is the Lord who unites.
Choose your path wisely, and do not adhere to the voices of tempting serpents, who will try to beguile you into believing a perversion of truth.
Hear hear!
This is utter racist trash. I cannot believe it was posted in public. This is hateful, racist propoganda and egocentric nonsense.
How dare you try to claim anti-racism and racial unity in the same hand as this racist slander? So whites are not Bermudian?
My family has been in the island for 400 years, since the first boats landed here. I am white. Do you have a problem with that? Am I a “pretend Bermudian”?
Whites discovered, founded, settled, and brought Bermuda up to what it was. How dare you say that whites are not real Bermudians. Your insinuiation we are “pretend” Bermudians is despicable, and sickening. And half of the slaves and indentured servants in our island were various races of whites from around the world.So you cannot make that claim.
You have truly defined yourself as a person, and I pray to God you do not teach children the vile poison of separation you utter here.
It is sad that since Martin Luther King gave his speech and died fighting for true human equality, that some people still have division and polarity in their minds, only allowing them to see a racist view of reality. Of course, most racists are hypocrites, and blind to their own faults. Hence the ego.
Real Bermudians are people who are born on the island of Bermuda. If you have a problem with understanding that, you should go seek a form of counselling.
Being a real Bermudian also means supporting our historical heritage, and not bastardizing it with a new and ignorant culture of materialism.
In conclusion, such racism has no place in modern society, and it is literally spitting in the face of Martin Luther King and the whole racial equality movement. It is unfathomable that someone of office would have the nerve to make such hateful, racist public statements and be proud of it.
Bermudians are black, white, portugese, asian, latino, indeed every race. Why? BECAUSE YOUR COUNTRY IS NOT DEFINED BY YOUR SKIN COLOUR, UNLIKE HOW A RACIST WOULD HAVE YOU BELIVE!
Racism fills the ears and minds of the youth, and they become tainted by this and brainwashed, and grow up to hate the other race they were indoctrinated about. This only perpetuates the racial hatred.
You cannot talk unity while pointing out division!
GET IT RIGHT!
Oh Boy! You really missed the whole point of her article didn’t you? If read carefully, she did not say that these were her views of who a “real Bermudian” is. Go back and read it again. In her second paragraph she stated “… the real struggle is between what people see as real Bermudians and pretend Bermudians.”
If anyone is teaching “…vile poison of separation…” it would be some of the statements that you made. Your comments were more vile than anything that was said in Ms. Daniels’ opinion piece.
According to you:
1) whites “…brought Bermuda up to what it was.” (Oh really?)
2) “…half of the slaves and indentured servants in our island were various races of whites…” (go back and read your history!)
3) “Real Bermudians are people who are born on the island of Bermuda.” (I was not born here but I am just as Bermudian as anyone else)
I guess you see these comments as unifying??
LOL!!
Keep reading.
You seemed to have missed this part.
“Is it legitimate? Is there really a difference between real Bermudians and pretend Bermudians?
“Of course not. It’s a notion that fails on every front – historically, legally, ethically, and in any other way you care to look at it. But it exists.”
By the way, in Nazi Germany similar speeches about division of the races were given. Consider that and see who is spouting what ideology. Such racial rhetoric precedes most wars or social dissolution attempts.
“The only REAL Germans are us!”
“The only REAL Bermudians are us!”
Thank you
There is a distintion that has risen from all this human race…..sorry all you lot…..there are more of us…….I do agree with you though….last time we went away we were greeted by a customs officer…he was light bron skinned and was quite young….getting off the plane and glad to be home I greeted him with exubberance……know what I got back?….he said “you don’t even sound Bermudian”…..this was my greeting….in the big halljust as you come in….in front of all the other arrivals I had to suffer this indignity…..and you know something…he was standing there with a poop eating grin afterwards….I would have been angry and required his immediate dissmissal….but I took a close look at him…he had cookie crums on and about his mouth….his shirt needed ironing….and a booby was stickin out his nose….then I knew….wouldn’t matter what I did…he was a lost cause…..I will always be his problem….I will always be his excuse…..I am the reason he fails….if he trips on his own shoelace…it would be because of me…..well mate….good luck with that…..I am not your problem….you should step outchah own way….I’m not innit!
the truth is this the oba don’t give a sh—t about the ordinary man in the street toni thats it.
but you would not know about that the present oba is the junior club of the upb and if you say I am using the race card look at the premier
because their consultans told them that they need a person of color up front.
I feel sorry for you having to go through life being that cynical and gullible to negative rhetoric
So you think Premier Cannonier was chosen because of his political insights?? Do you think Premier Cannonier was chosen because he is a great orator and an exceptional critical thinker?? Do you think Premier Cannonier was chosen because of his international ties and networking ability?? Just asking
I think Premier Cannonier does have some of those skills but the reality is he was chosen because he was seen as someone who could bring people together. There are plenty of people in his Cabinet who can advise him on all the important issues. I also think John Barritt would have been an excellent choice, unfortunately Bermuda is still not politically mature enough to select a white person as a party leader and expect to get elected. It is why there will never be a white person chosen to lead the PLP either, even if they are the very best person for the job. Rather sad reflection on Bermuda as a whole if you ask me.
I don’t agree with that, I am a black man, and I will take John Barritt over Cannonier anyday of the week.
If everyone thought like you then we might see that happen. It should always come down to who is the best person for the job, simple as that. Maybe someday it will happen. We can hope.
Wrong Frank.
Wallow in your hate, self pitty and keep wear that chip on your shoulder proudly so you can blame others for your situation. That keeps you voting for the PLP..Break the cycle. The OBA are working for Bermuda and Bermudians.
The PLP all have to huddle in caucus to make decisions on what is best for the PLP..They look at what is best for the PLP.
Who is “the ordinary man in street?” Please describe you’re idea of who this person is?
It’s another group of code words. “ordinary man in the street” means the same thing as “real Bermudians”.
Code words, meant to divide people into ethnic groups.
@Suzie
Why are you acting like we have not been divided up into groups already? Where you been living?
So let me get this, I am suppose to believe that it was the PLP who divided this country?
It’s the PLP that regularly uses the phrase ‘real Bermudians’. It’s a phrase that suggests that some Bermudians (the ones who aren’t ‘real’) have opinions and viewpoints that are less valid.
In as much as the PLP uses this type of language, it does divide us. It certainly does nothing at all to bring us together.
They may not have divided it, but they certainly did nothing to bring it together and, one might argue, actively tried to divide us more.
*Cue baseless personal attack, ignoring the point of my post*
You act like white people didn’t create the divide already. White Bermudians swear they are oppressed and that it was black people who “divided people into ethnic groups”.
Real Bermudians obviously.
The ordinary man doesn’t have access to write their own opinion column, for one. They also don’t have access to the perks, friends and family benefits or new bank cocktail parties that some people are privy to.
It’s not a race thing, but a CLASS thing, and that is the true divide here in Bermuda.
Exactly, this article is to keep the race debate alive and well while Toni and her rich cronies take Bermuda over…
Wow… you really don’t see the irony of this, do you?
Amazing.
so none of the plp are rich cronies?! stfu ya dummy
Huh?
I disagree.
ANYONE can write an opinion column.
ANYONE can start a blog and, with work and dedication, become known as “an activist”.
I’d bet that, if you wrote a column, and approached Bernews or the Sun or the RG, they’d consider it.
Christopher Famouss is an “ordinary man”, isn’t he?
Chris Famouss is known throughout the community. Maybe you, Mike Hind, can do as you suggested and get it in Bernews, etc. The common man has access to letters to the editor, not an entire opinion column with a great head shot as profile pictures.
Mike, don’t suggest that you and the common man are the same, and because you can do it, so can he/she. We already know that certain stories aren’t run in the paper, etc. To say otherwise, is to have your head in the sand, or possibly in some other hole.
@Tough Love, just to clarify, anyone can write an opinion column and send it in to us.
The main caveats being the person must put their name to it, and it cannot libelous!
If you, or anyone else you know, wants to write opinion columns please feel free to send us an email.
Thank you, Bernews.
Wait… I’m not the common man?
Why not? I’d really like to hear your answer.
And Chris Famouss being known in the community is exactly my point!
He is a common man who spoke out, thus proving that anyone CAN write an opinion column.
The first step, if you want to do this, would be to step out from behind the hood of anonymity, especially if you want to make personal attacks, like you did here.
Another would be to show some integrity. Granted, it’s not a prerequisite, as, for example, Mr. Famouss rarely, if ever, does so, but it’d be a nice change.
So, how about it? Since you are, apparently, a common man (and I’m not, apparently. I wonder if you’ll ever explain why not… Hmmm…), give it a try! Write an opinion column, sign your name to it and see if you can get it here on Bernews.
Toni Daniels ought to be deported for idiocy. This senseless drivel is an affront to our national IQ.
Is that possible?
If it were possible to be deported for idiocy, traffic would be a lot lighter in the mornings…
If only it were.
If the PLP represented all bermuda then their party would reflect that. It does not, the PLP are like the white guy who says, I can’t be racist, I have a black friend. In their case they say, we are diverse, have you met Zane?
If white Bermudians truly supported a just and fair society they would have fought on mass for it back in the 60s through to present day. It’s odd how white Bermudians voted for one party consistently and black Bermudians voted across party lines and we see nothing wrong with it. The fact that white Bermudians see no value in the PLP or recognize the value it has brought to our society today we probably would still have the law of master and servant instead of the Employment Act 2000
Maybe because the plp, not usually outright, but sometimes, puts down the white “bermudians” or so they think so why would anyone vote for a party that s**** on them constantly?! Answer me dat…
Riiight! I really doubt that even YOU believe what you have written there, masters and slaves instead of the employment act! Ive heard it all now!!
Instead of continually harping on the past, why dont we try to move forward together. I know that we are in a mess as much as the next person, but bringing up the way things used to be is not helping anything at all! Get on with making the country better for us all, regardless if you are black, white, purple or other. Just saying!!
Oddly enough this can be caused by the PLP candidates themselves. In the last 3 elections I have only had one PLP candidate come to my house canvasing and sadly he repeated to me verbatim what was written in the brochure he was handing out. In the 2007 election I saw the PLP candidate for my constituency the day I went to vote. The UBP candidate had been to my house twice to speak to my family.
Two PLP candidates came to my house before the election and immediately assumed I was NOT BERMUDIAN before I opened my mouth, just by looking at me. Guess what colour I am? You think I going to support that? LOL, They are not looking out for me I can tell you that.
My first cousin, who is a white Bermudian girl, had her door knocked on by a certain PLP MP in the last election up by Crawl and when she answered he apologised for wasting her time as he simply assumed she wasn’t able to vote because she must’ve not been Bermudian as she wasn’t the same color as him or his other PLP cohorts.
The funny thing about that was when her black female roommate was seen in the background by the PLP MP he asked if he could speak to her instead as he automatically assumed she must’ve been a Bermudian. He must’ve felt really stupid when she started speaking to him in a Bajan accent.
Ignorant is as ignorant does.
Do you know Candidates have a voters list, so they know who you are before you answer the door… we need to stop the Bsing, that perpetuates racist stereotyping..
Has the OBA Candidate visited you or is the OBA and UBP one in the same to you.
Who’s to say whites haven’t fought ‘en masse’ for a fair and just society? Though, frankly, not everyone regardless of skin colour is going to get involved in the ‘fight’. Fighting isn’t always some grand march or protest in public. Sometimes fighting is the small things, the conversations between two people, or against seen or known actions.
I believe many people recognise the value the PLP had in the past, the same as the value of the BIU in the past. The problem lies in the version that exists now. Both are embarrassments to their amazing history.
So by your own post you confirm that:
Blacks and Whites vote for the OBA
Only blacks votes for the PLP
which party represents the whole of Bermuda again?
The society of the 60s does not reflect the society of today and today’s society shouldn’t be judged on the actions or inaction of the past.
@Mike Hind, so whites being paid more then blacks doing the same job and the wealth that has been accumulated over centuries through legal theft and denial from getting top positions because of racism doesn’t ring a bell.
All History is a current event
Everything that has ever happened continues to happen in some shape, form or fashion.
Dr. John Henrik Clark
Grandmaster Scholar Warrior
P.S
Ya just as twisted as she is !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What crap. Most white people don’t have “wealth accumulated over centuries” any more than black people do. Blacks are not “denied” top positions.
And, of course, your statements just go to prove the point that Ms Daniels was making.
Completely off topic and has nothing to do with what you said or what I said.
You can’t move the goalposts if you want to have an honest conversation.
Do better.
“law of master and servant”
What like slavery ? You have no credibility devaluing that struggle to play your personal politics.
Some people are sick
White Bermudians wont support Black organizations in Bermuda because they feel blacks are not intelligent or smart enough to lead them and Historically we were servitude to them(well that’s if you don’t go past slavery because before that The Moors taught the Europeans how to be civil after they came from the Caucus Mountains),and they would be Ostracized from mainstream society like Dr. Barbara Ball.
Completely untrue and racist as hell.
Stop with the hate. Please.
@ Mike Hind obviously you need 101 on History as these claims are accurately documented and being you’re a troller you have access to a computer, do something positive with it and do some homework before you talk out of one of the Orifices on your body while having a Tantrum !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Um. No, that’d be you.
You’re spouting hate, as usual, and now throwing a tantrum because someone you see as inferior to you, based solely on the colour of their skin, is speaking against you.
Throwing a tantrum? That’s your method, not mine.
You said what I said is UNTRUE now do your homework Dreamer.
And it IS untrue.
I can’t do homework on nonsense that you made up in your racist mind.
so biko are you saying the moors didn’t enslave the europeans when they where teaching them all how to be civil
OMG, half her article is quoted straight from the PLP. Copy and paste is alive and well I see…
Really? Show us the PLP article it came from.
Exactly, Toni didn’t even have the courtesy of citing where she took this from….thanks for pointing that out…
So you make an allegation and can’t back it up.
Pretty typical.
What PLP article did it come from?
“I’m a mixed-race Bermudian” ….. sorry Toni, but 98% of the world doesn’t agree……..the world sees you as either white or black. Its not good, its not bad…..That’s just the way it is.
Oh please we all mixed girl move on
yeah lol like who says that,..shows that she doesnt even know her true self, she is trying to appease to both races….look your black its that simple,..now on with what you have to say
she is Bermudian.
How is she black mate? Thats one of the things that confuse me in this country. If one of your parents is black and the other is white you are mixed. Not black. Its that simple. Black people have two black parents, white people have two white parents. Any mix of the two is just that, mixed. I supposed tiger woods is black too. Smh
When Tiger won the Masters title he was mixed . When he was caught out for entertaining whores , he was black .
now that’s funnie
LMFAO, But true.
By mixed you mean Thai, Chinese, Dutch and African American…I guess.
You will be identified on how you appear. There are many Bermudians that can fall into the “mixed” catergory. It was racism that said that if you had a percentage of black in you….YOU ARE BLACK. President Obama is considered the first BLACK president, not the first MIXED president.
But he is the first mixed president tho. Doesnt matter how u spin it. If it came down to medical papers or any other technical identification he is other
Clearly you don’t understand or your just playing dumb….That’s the problem…no matter how you SPIN it. Society puts you in catergories based on how you appear…most people don’t know if someone is “mixed” unless they tell you they are “mixed”.
No, she’s not black. She’s of Caucasian and African decent no matter who does or does not want to “claim her”. And FYI, very few people who “look black” in Bermuda are just black. Furthermore, can we just stop trying to pigeon-hole people into just one race? Does it even matter what race they are? Nope. They either can do a task or cannot. Their racial background has NOTHING to do with their capability to contribute to this country. Tired of this racial crap.
So to you all mixed people are either solely white or black?? Please pull your head out of the sand and acting like a complete bigot.
I’m half black and half white and I never call myself black or white (and most other mixed folks I know are the same way).
Stop polluting the island with that type of prejudiced nonsense.
Amen….Toni you will be viewed as BLACK, regardless who your parents are.
This article is crap ““Real Bermudians are black. They live in black neighbourhoods, their children go to public school, their partners are other real Bermudians, they don’t go away to school or university, they belong to the union, and they support the Progressive Labour Party.” Like WTF.
I think you’ve missed the thrust.
She was pointing out this stereotypical view, not indicating that she feels this is what a real Bermudian is. Learn to comprehend what you read.
It seems that most of the posts pointing out race as an issue have replies by other posters who are being very condescending because they don’t agree this article was racist proponda by the OBA. In my opinion, that is the true tragedy of Bermuda. It is a place divided along class lines and many educated people can not come together with those Bermudians of all races who feel marginalized because they are busy trying to point out how stupid your views are. People feel how they feel for a reason. Let’s not downplay what people have gone through. However, it is time to have a new conversation.
And why should we believe the PLP now, when during their 14 year ‘reign’ they promised the those same “new ideas and real solutions to get Bermudians back to work, expand opportunity and build a fairer, more equitable Bermuda that puts Bermudians first”??? This present Government (or any government) needs at least one full term (certainly more than 16 months) to see results/return of sound economic policies, which will improve the dire economic and social mess we are in. There is no ‘magic switch’ which some seem to think you can flip.
Wow Toni , are you ashamed to be a Daniels ? Is that a REAL BERMUDIAN name ? White BERMUDIAN A CONTRADICTION !!! I don’t get it ? The Kitsons , the Gibbons family , one black side , one white side , all real Bermudians . White Dunkerleys , black Dunkerleys , all real Bermudians . Trimmingham , Stubbs , Tucker..black n white ,Dill ..black n white , all real Bermudians .
As another prolific real white Bermudian blogger oft writes ..LOOK ANOTHER MOLEHILL !!
Your response? Yep.
Well done not only missing her point, but also making it.
Did you not read the whole thing? ‘Cuz you’re missing the point pretty strongly.
Or is that intentional?
Hmmm…
And the Gutteridges , and the Brombys and the Coopers , the Smiths ..black and white , all real Bermudians. Now the Hinds ,hmmmm , I remember going to the Golden Hind and listening to a good friend of mine Jimmy Keyes , now Jimmy wasn’t a real Bermudian , he was in my eyes a honorable Bermudian although we do have some real Bermudian white Keyes here , get along well with them . Now Mr.Hind was your family in business with Andy Allen in the short lived money losing enterprise ‘The Golden Hind ?’Cause as I’ve mentioned before I know a lot of people on this little island and I’ve never met a hind Without a side dish of French fries and coleslaw .
This is gibberish.
You’re babbling nonsense.
Why? Who knows?
But if I had to guess, it’s because you got caught not reading the whole thing.
Try making sense next time.
Making sense …. The lead story is race baiting and unlike some people I refuse to swallow the hook . I’ll dance around it . The Coxs ..black Coxs , white Coxs .. Real Bermudians . Barrett’s , Sharpes ,Vallis and Purveys White Bermudians . Butterfield , some black , some white ..all real Bermudians .
Toni , I’ll buy my wheatgrass smoothies elsewhere !
No. It’s not. It’s pointing out a very real attitude here in Bermuda, one promoted and propagated by cowardly demagogues like you.
And, faced with this truth, you resort to gibberish and innuendo, ignoring the actual points of the piece.
Read. Be honest. TRY doing the right thing for once.
I guess your right Mike a very real attitude here in Bermuda started way before our time . If we go back to the time before adult suffrage when Bermuda was ruled by MCP’s , and only real Bermudians who owned property of certain value could vote or have a say in how their tax dollar was spent . Ask your privileged papa about those days . And I guess the same attitude is perpetrated by the offspring of that generation in one form or another .
Honest enough for you …did I say what you wanted me to say … Did I live up to your retarded expectations ….
Go —– yourself
While we’re at it Mike , this term demagogue that you liberally throw around , let me explain something to you kid . Your a paper demagogue , just like your a paper tiger to me .
Bermuda has experienced a period in its past when real serious demagogues roamed and ruled the land . Ask the descendants of the displaced Tucker’s Town residents about them , they will supply you with all the material you’ll ever need and more to realize that nasty , mean and deadly serious demagogues really existed amongst the original REAL BERMUDIANS .
You like to make baseless personal attacks on me, rather that talk about the things I say, don’t you?
I mean, you must like it, as that’s all you ever do.
(And you might want to break out the ol’ dictionary… I’m pretty sure the word doesn’t mean what you think it means. But a nice try. Next time? I suggest you try reality and truth and honesty and integrity. Just a thought.)
Is that all you have to say about the original REAL BERMUDIAN DEMAGOGUES , c”mon Mike a little honesty here . Oh sorry to disappoint but the dictionary magnified your lie .
One more thing, talk about things you say ? You will never , ever control anything coming from me .
Got It …
Never agree with me or attempt to validate anything Coffee has to post .
I don’t need your approval nor do I seek it .
You mean nothing to me , understand ?.. Do you understand MIKE HIND ?..Answer. Me Godd…m it !!
Wow… Talk about throwing a tantrum!
Are the questions I ask and the points I make THAT threatening to you that you have to fabricate this whole bizarre scenario where I’m trying to control you? Where even the THOUGHT of me agreeing with you send you into a freak out like this?
You’ em lost it, man. Completely.
You lie and spout bigoted things, and then, when called on it, you freak out like this?
Amazing.
Seriously. Take a breath and try again. Try it with the truth, this time.
I beg you, for your own health, try being honest for once.
And…
The fact that there were demagogues before you, on the other side – something I don’t deny, not would I – does not negate the fact that you are, in fact, a demagogue, one who is willing to say anything to promote your political agenda. You have, and will continue to, lied and spun and misinformed, with almost every post you put up.
You, sir, are a demagogue and no matter how much you try to deflect it by saying “there were other demagogues in the past!”, this fact is not going to change.
I guess your right Mike a very real attitude here in Bermuda started way before our time . If we go back to the time before adult suffrage when Bermuda was ruled by MCP’s , and only real Bermudians who owned property of certain value could vote or have a say in how their tax dollar was spent . Ask your privileged papa about those days . And I guess the same attitude is perpetrated by the offspring of that generation in one form or another .
Honest enough for you …did I say what you wanted me to say … Did I live up to your retarded expectations ….
*sigh*
Yet another example that you’re just lashing out and attacking because you know you’re wrong.
You know nothing about me, yet speak like you do.
And using disgusting epithets like “retarded”?
You really are a vile piece of work, aren’t you?
You will say ANYTHING to push your agenda, no matter how false, disgusting, racist or evil, won’t you?
We deserve better than this.
Do better. BE better.
Please.
All,
I am just a guest worker and actually quite priviliged to work in Bermuda so not my place to get into this one, but in London, where I am from, Ms Daniels is classed as either:
- Black British
- Afro Caribbean
- Black African
Despite her attempts at a british accent, which is quite funny to listen to sometimes, she should be advised “mixed race” isn’t one of the ethnic groups on any of the application forms I have ever seen.
If she doesnt have her Oyster card for the 36 bus to Victoria the driver will not let her on the bus, mixed race, Bermudian, white, OBA or otherwise.
Er not sure what you have been applying for but I’m a black Bermudian living in London, and all the applications I have seen have options for different mixed races too.
Forms state “Other” as an option, and some are starting to list “Tick all that apply”. Also race and ethnicity aren’t the same.
“Race refers to a person’s physical appearance, such as skin color, eye color, hair color, bone/jaw structure etc. Ethnicity, on the other hand, relates to cultural factors such as nationality, culture, ancestry, language and beliefs.” from http://www.diffen.com/difference/Ethnicity_vs_Race
Surely you are familiar with the bermuda gov. CURE form which has “other” as an option. As a “guest” worker, you would have had to fill it out !
It’s funny to see he PLP respond with the “real Bermudian” rhetoric in the accusations in their response.
We don’t want this Us vs. Them anymore, PLP. You had your chance and left us all worse off.
I’m mixed race but both white and black society call me black. I think the expression goes if you have a lick of d brush you’re black. What’s that tell you? Why does Toni speak with an English accent if she is a proud Bermudian?
I’m mixed race, but am called white. It all depends on the skin colour you were born with.
When it’s necessary to list my racial make up I put mixed, because it’s what I am. My skin colour doesn’t define me.
I’ve always been kind of fascinated by the fact that so many who are mixed view themselves as one specific race. Perhaps because of how they were raised, or that they allow society to dictate their own self perception.
So if she has an accent she’s not a “real Bermudian”?
Got it.
It also looks like if a mixed race person doesn’t completely forget the white part of their heritage, they’re not a “real Bermudian”.
No, Swing Voter…that’s an American concept, if you have one ounce of Black blood then you are Black.
Come to the UK and you will get the shock of your life regarding colour and ethnicity. Blacks, are divided into categories of Africans, British Africans, Blacks from the Caribbean, Black Americans and/or Black other? Even in the UK, there are the English, Irish, Scottish, Welch who make-up the British, born or naturalised and the list is exhaustive.
Many mixture race Blacks in the UK become very incensed when their sons and/or daughters are claimed by the Black race, as white mothers and/or fathers have claimed, “my child has the right to be acknowledged and respected through their white heritage, not as exclusively Black.”
How this socially and culturally interacts and qualifies in the real world is another story. Diversity is a Government mandate, but racism is alive and well in the UK.
Bermuda has taken a political step farther than any other country that I know of. Race as a political ideology, in other words, race is the central plank and platform for the PLP. They play on the emotional pull and historical background of race relations and institutional racism (racially limiting laws that should be repealed).
If there is one criticism of the OBA, they have not invested the time and energy into dismantling the destructive race relations campaigns of divisiveness. OBA must demonstrate that race is being abused for the political gain of a very limited “few”. But how do you do that when even the most intelligent cling to the misguided belief that being Black and an unionist (and to many they owe their gratitude to the unions, not the PLP) is under attack? By consistently demonstrating that Bermuda is equally as important to white Bermudians as black Bermudians. That you both share the same values, you both want the same things for your children and you both up hold law and order in the face of even when OBA politicians (as the ruling party) has faltered. Be brave, be consistent and be true to Bermuda as a nation by not seeing and/or publicly recognising group of people (in or coming to Bermuda) as more important than another.
London, England
C’mon Valerie, look at Toni, and then look at yourself…..u r both classified as BLACK by everyone.
Swing Voter…
Until I actually heard and witness it for myself, teens in the UK refer to themselves as “mixed” race. And sometimes you cannot tell if they are Black as individuals from the Mediterranean Sea region, such as Greece, Algeria, Turkey, etc whose olive skin tone can be confused for Blacks.
To teens of mixed race they mean just that, they are of mixed parentage, and they do not classify themselves and/or identify themselves as exclusively Black.
But isn’t there very similar concept in Bermuda as highlighted by the General Census? Many Portuguese Bermudians although white skin, consider themselves Black. The solidarity stems from the Union (back to the earliest days of the Union during the arrival of the first Portuguese workers in Bermuda. The Union championed their cause for better wages and living conditions, Portuguese workers being illiterate (as all workers were, i.e., Black, White and/or Portuguese) identified in solidarity with the common goal, not skin colour, thus identifying themselves as being Black in solidarity.
To this day many White Portuguese Bermudians identify themselves as Black Bermudians. And Bermuda may be the ONLY country in the world where this is a part of the country’s unique racial-ethnic history.
London, England
I guess you’re right then Val. I only know what I know.
(1) If you ain’t white, your black. But Africans don’t agree that I’m black because of centuries of race mixing
(2) There is no such thing as a born Bermudian
(3) Real Americans are Natives
(4) Real Australians are Aborigines
(2) I think you mean “native” Bermudian. There IS such a thing as a Born Bermudian.
close but no cigar Mikey…. there is no such thing as a ‘Bermudian’…jus look at your damn passport….hell, look at any ‘Bermudians’ passport…no such thing M8
Oh. We’re playing semantics. Got it.
My bad. I thought you were being serious.
Swing Voter…
I point I was attempting to make…Mixed race children do not subscribe to being Black, they subscribe to being “mixed” race; respecting and acknowledging their Black and White backgrounds or heritage.
Whether you or I like it or not, the world has changed and people no longer think of themselves in the exclusive Black or White categories (unashamed and/or unapologetic). It is their ethnicity that matters to them – meaning their family support, their social and cultural networks and ultimately their comfort zones, not the old label of being Black or White, i.e., skin colour (except perhaps still in Bermuda).
Why do you think that there have been so many violent uprisings in Africa? One ethnic group that wants to eliminate (cleanse) another ethnic group, both Africans and all have Black skin? Ethnicity within the country, one tribe with different set of values and cultural norms from another tribe, but all Africans. And the same goes for Eastern Europe.
From Africans who I have encountered, if you are born in Africa, you are an African, even if your fore-parents came from Africa, you are welcomed back as a child of Africa. Do they consider you to be Black? Yes, but then they attempt to identify your tribe. But for children of former slaves to precisely identify our African tribes, it is almost impossible.
I repeat my initial premise, Bermuda is the only country that I know of that uses race, i.e., skin colour as a political ideology.
London, England
There is another group in Bermuda that will also believe anything as long as it is coming from a certain group lets be fair there are (2)two Bermudas smdh as beautiful as Bermuda is when you look under the hood you will find a lot of hurt n pain
But not by their families, if 50% of their relatives are white. And not necessarily by anyone else.
If a person has one white parent and one black, they are mixed. It’s not an opinion, it’s a fact.
If someone says “well that means you’re black”, that is just an opinion, not a fact.
Dear Ms Daniels
Before you try and paint a picture like PLP supporters are the ones who cause racial division, I beg you to speak to Zane DeSilva and Jane Correira and ask them what was said to them while they were campaigning for the PLP.
(My intepretation of you when Zane tells you of what was said to him:
“OMG there’s no way they could’ve said that as those words are not even in their vocabulary!”)
#getreal!
Now saying that doesn’t make it right if blacks or whites are the ones spewing the hate, it’s just showing that we still have a lot of work to do on this island.
I respect that you’re a young eager Bermudian trying to make her mark but you might want to slow down and not get ahead of yourself. You’re coming across as naive at best.
Be a part of the solution and not a contributor to the racial division.
Well Mr. PLP and others you tell me what a real Bermudian is!! because there were no Humans white or black here when Bermuda was discovered so we are ALL descendants from some other Country. so don’t give me that c–p about real Bermudians because it just shows how ignorant one can really be.
Mrs Toni Daniels starts off her opinion piece talking about how her being mixed gives her insight that others don’t have…hmmm that’s weird because most bermudians are mixed! Many of the same black plp supporters she marginalized in her writings have white in their families as well. Many of the whites families dissed us because we were mixed…disowned us, while they thrive economically they watch us, their cousins ect suffer smh. Then they have the nerve to say what some black fathers don’t do for their children smh…this whole tiger woods mentality needs to stop and I found the tone of which Mrs Daniels started off with to be very offensive to say the least! It is not our fault that the term bermudians has been used as code to verbally insult a group of us. We know who is being addressed when ppl say bermudians are lazy ect..I also find it offensive when we in the black community (and Mrs Daniels you can say you’re mixed all you want you’re but you’re are black) are attacked politically in terms of blind and loyalist voting! The oba ministers ect need to stop this blame the plp crap! This is why the plp lost the election! Our community don’t vote blindly like Uba/oba supporters do! And we proved that in the last election…so all this talk of what the plp did is nonsense, you all need to worry about what you are going to do to help the country! And when the opposition brings up a point address it instead of saying well look what you all did…grow up! We didn’t knock on your doors and beg you to represent us! You asked us to put or faith in you! So don’t get into office and think you are doing us any favors. You all signed up for this so get to work!
Take away the party politics, there is a belief by Bermudians that blacks are real Bermudians and the whites must be ex pats from Canada or uk. There is also a belief that real Bermudians have 2 Bermudian parents. Ive heard black ppl tell other black ppl from down the islands to go back to their country even tho they were born here. Can anyone tell me what black or white mans ancestors where found on this island. Most of our black Bermudian ancestors came from down the islands and the whites from Europe, so what gives any race the right to lay claim to being a real Bermudian. No your history ppl and that would alleviate the ignorance being spoken daily.
So does this mean everyone is African?
Bermuda was a settle country even before the United states became a country; you tell an American that he or she does not hold title to their country. In fact you tell that European settler population that has taken over any land area in this world and created new countries that they do not hold title to those lands.
What history you reading up on?! If anything it was settled by the Spanish or Portugeuese, so as far as um concered they the original people, yet second or third class in our country. stop ya nonsense alvin…
Dude, you’re angry, we get it but it doesn’t mean you have to cast every white person with the same brush.
Real Bermudians are those that want Bermuda and Bermudians to succeed. We want our people to be able to take care of our families. We are not limited to boxes labeled as white or black male or female gay or straight religious or secular. We welcome foreign business and economic opportunity but we are against laws and policies that would only allow us to receive the water spilled off of the roof as opposed to what flows into the tank. We are the lifeblood of this rock and we will defend what we must to ensure our collective prosperity. We embrace tourists and foreign workers but we hope for a day when our people are free from the shackles of mental slavery which seeks to denigrate our own people and keep us further divided. Sadly Miss Daniels you have failed to demonstrate your realness by accusing the PLP to be race baiters while you’ve done exactly that which you criticize.
Remember that time at the Commercial Immigration presentation a couple of months back, the woman in the purple fleece jumped up and accused Minister Fahy of not even being Bermudian? Clearly she was wrong because I’m pretty sure you need to be Bermudian if you want to even be an MP or an appointed official.
She jumped up, accused him, and all the PLP MPs in the room didn’t come to his defence. Derrick Burgess, Lovitta Foggo, Sen Diallo, Lawrence Scott were all there and no one said a word. Even Senator Marc Daniels was sitting right next to her and didn’t do anything. That’s the kind of anger and xenophobia that the PLP is allowing.
Remember that time that woman in the US accused then-Senator Obama of being a Muslim (or was it an Arab) and John McCain (his opponent in the election) jumped up and quickly came to his defence?
The PLP would never in anyone’s lifetime do such a thing because they know it benefits them to keep those fires burning.
Wow, my daughter will be born in 2 months – I guess she’ll always be a pretend Bermudian…. cause her mom is not black or even a pretend Bermudian… C__P – we just invested in a house. I guess because we’re only pretend Bermudians the money we spent on the downpayment, lawyers, stamp duty, land taxes, surveyors, planning permit, architect, contractors, renovations, decorations, etc – should have just been saved and spent elsewhere where our multi-cultural family wouldn’t be classified as one or the other…
By TD’s classification my husband isn’t even a real Bermudian because his parents worked hard to send him to the US for a college degree….
Disheartening… WHAT CENTURY are we in?
She wasn’t stating her opinion. She was pointing out a sickeningly prevalent opinion on the island.
Can you even read?
Her article is arguing AGAINST the narrow minded racism that you’re talking about. She is arguing AGAINST the trumped-up division between real Bermudians and pretend Bermudians.
The PLP uses the phrase ‘real Bermudians’, and we all know what they mean by it.
They often use the phrase “Grassroots Bermudians” in exactly the same way. They know what they really mean – and what they really mean is “Black” and whites are passed off as diluted or something. Just another way PLP keeps racism alive and well knowing its the only card they have.
I’ve said this before, but in reality foreign born Whites in Bermuda outnumber Bermudian born whites. Maybe that’s part of the reason Black Bermudians find it hard to distinguish.
WHAT?
You have NOTHING to back that up, at all.
Seriously. You guys can’t just make stuff up and pretend it’s true.
You HAVE to back it up.
The 2010 Census does not break it down, however the 2000 census (see below) does. It can’t be that much different today.
Bermuda Born
Total 44,290 44,037 100 100 +1%
Black 30,662 30,690 69 70 0%
White 9,493 9,494 21 22 0%
Mixed 3,210 2,991 7 7 +7%
Other Races 764 765 2 2 0%
Not Stated 161 97 ** **
Foreign Born
Total 17,675 15,823 100 100 +12%
Black 3,301 3,073 19 19 +7%
White 11,613 11,470 66 72 +1%
Mixed 759 345 4 2 +120%
Other Races 1,905 901 11 6 +111%
Not Stated 97 34 1
Don’t expect a reply from the truthseekers as there will be none forthcoming . But Coffee appreciates your diligent observation and works .
@mixitup
And in amongst the foreign born black were how many Bermudians? Like Paula Cox. Like the spouses of several PLP Premiers and MPs?
What are you talking about?
The stats I posted confirm what Golden Hind challenged me on. It also highlights the 1960, 1970 wholesale giveaway of Bermudian status to many Europeans who lived here for just a few years. So much so that it surpassed the native European-Bermudian population. You can pick the bones out of the reasoning behind that.
No, you posted out-of-date information to back up a ridiculous premise.
Come on. Don’t we deserve better than this? Look in your heart of hearts and ask yourself if acting like this is helping Bermuda in any way.
You are a sad case you are Mike.. let me break down this ‘outdated’ info for you. The first set of number represent the year 2000, the second set represent the 1991 census. Notice the Bermuda Born White population, in these 10 years moved by ZERO percent, now this is from 1990-2000. Ok lets just pretend that there was a baby boom amongst the white born Bermudian population between 2000 and 2010 lets throw out 2000 additional white Bermudians born just for the ridiculousness of it… GET IT YET? Even with 2000, it still is less than the Foreign Born White population.
PS What am I ‘acting like’ by sharing facts? Oh right, you’d like to believe we ALL just fell off the turnip truck.
What’s even sadder is the fact that you’re using this as an excuse to treat people differently.
You’re actually trying to rationalize discrimination.
“Maybe that’s part of the reason that Black Bermudians find it hard to distinguish.”
You’re actually making excuses for this kind of behaviour!
THAT is what’s sad.
Make all the ad hominem’s you want. It won’t change the fact that this kind of thinking is bad for Bermuda.
You know what dude, I’m really beginning to believe you are a bit challenged ? Where in any of my posts do I advocate discrimination on anyone? And don’t expect another reply from me because ya boring me.
It’s always amazing to me how people who get caught out play the “You’re boring me!” card.
The topic is about “real Bermudians” and how some folks are considered by some to be somehow inferior in this aspect based on the various things listed.
You posted “Maybe that’s part of the reason Black Bermudians find it hard to distinguish.”
Which IS, in fact, rationalizing discrimination.
But you run away, “bored by me”…
The conversation is over, anyway.
For clarification: The wholesale giveaway of Bermuda Status you refer to was granted to a maximum of one tenth of one percent of the population per year. This was about fifty persons on an annual basis. There were usually about 300 – 400 who applied, so the rest were refused. This is factual, I know because I was there.
So wholesale giveaway is a bit of an exaggeration.
In addition there were many other requirements, most people were refused and only the truly determined ever got Status. I know because I was one of them. To look at me you’d never know because my family first came here in 1939. So stop spouting rubbish.
Choir Boy, I apologize for being too lazy to type, so I’ve pasted some information to clear up your misconception… Long video, but zero in around the 24:00-27th minute. Maybe you played hooky during this part of history class.
So lazy I forgot to paste the video.. SMH..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F4yHmCrs7Q#t=1515
So… You don’t have anything to back it up, then. Got it,
So you can just look at someone and tell whether they’re Bermudian, can you?
I think that in the vast majority of cases where people have complained to Immigration because some foreigner was working on a job site it’s turned out that the “foreigner” was in fact a white Bermudian.
Foreign born whites outnumber Bermudian born whites? That may be the dumbest statement that I’ve seen in this discussion.
Whoever you are, try finding another name other than MIXITUP..
Now scroll up, READ, and you will realize what statement is the dumbest you seen.. YOURS!! You must feel a bit silly about now don’t you.
Why would they need to distinguish? Unless of course they were obsessed with race perhaps.
Did a bit deeper and you will understand why there is a trust issue relating to the OBA’s opening of access to Bermuda status, property ownership etc. This, too many, reeks of a replay of a past time that lead to the amount of non-born Bermudians (upward of 15,000) now with Bermuda status.
TD’s point is that you ARE a real Bermudian despite what some will try to paint you.
TD is highlighting the stereotypical view that unfortunately too many people share… not her own view on the subject… keep up
That’s not what she’s saying (that you’re not Bermudian)she’s saying that some people think that way and she finds it disgusting. Look at the reactions to her article and sadly, I’m afraid she’s right.
The PLP is an inherently racist Party. Point blank. They were established to fight the white oligarchy back in the day and they have retained the same mind-set into this century except the target is now white people in general (regardless of financial standing or power) and black people who dare not support the PLP. Listen to them when Mr. W. Furbert switched sides and how they claimed that he was led astray from the flock and has now returned home. And more recently the PLP’s new leader claimed that the OBA St. George’s MP was also led astray as her family are all PLP leaning, hence why was trying to convince her to switch sides. So these people were somehow duped into leaving the ‘flock’ (not my words, but theirs) and now they have returned (or should do) to where they belong. This alone confirms Ms. Daniels’ argument that the PLP believe black Bermudians should only support the PLP and if they don’t it is because they have been led astray or are simply surrogates/puppets. They do this because in their psyche they truly believe that white and black simply cannot work together.
This is easily evidenced throughout their history, their speeches, and actions and most recently further exemplified in their divisive and downright racist and sexist ads they issued in the run up to the last election. If they were truly interested in diversity of their Party then why run one of their very few white candidates, who was an ex-police Commissioner, in a seat they know that person had a slim chance of winning? Funny enough he was praised while a Senator and now he seems have dumped like a ‘bad habit’ by the same organization. Was he being used as a surrogate or a puppet because of the color of his skin? Surely an ex-Police commissioner would provide more experience and expertise than a formerly convicted armed bank robber that has no qualms with expressing outright hatred towards others that don’t look or think like him? But BDA is another world as they say.
Just put it this way you cannot put forward a candidate, and then make that person a Shadow Minister, that preaches vehemently against mixed race marriages (with the claim they dilute the black race) and then turn around and claim that your Party is for ALL Bermudians. It is impossible to reconcile the hatred and the kumbyah rhetoric that the PLP claim they are all about now (except if you are gay of course, then you are upending civilization because Mr. Bean says you are). Then they had to dump one of their ‘rising stars’ prior to the previous election partly because he demonstrated his true racist colors during an incoherent Facebook racial rant at a white Bermudian who he views as being the ‘enemy.’ As Mr. Bean stated last year due to collective responsibility in our system of Government, it must be accepted that his beliefs are the Party’s beliefs. And the fact that someone with such a nasty mind set was considered by the PLP to be one of their ‘rising stars’ says all that needs to be said to me at least. I can only imagine if one of the OBA’s ‘rising stars’ had committed such an offense what the outcry would have been over that person and the OBA in general. But instead we were subject to deafening silence with some even sticking up for such nonsense instead of actually being ‘progressive’ and condemning such disgustingness while also making it abundantly clear that such ignorance has no place in either the Party or Bermuda as a whole.
If the PLP would actually live up to their ‘progressive’ title for once and truly accepted that Bermudians come from all races, backgrounds, economic statuses, sexual orientation and religious creeds they would become unstoppable in terms of electable prowess. Instead they focus on our differences and prey on people’s emotions with one aim in mind: To further the interests of the Party no matter how damaging to Bermuda’s social, moral or economic fabric
What??? Girl most of us are mixed
@Evie, Lewisham to Victoria… I agree totally
there are very few black people in Bermuda who are not mixed- either through marriage or slavery- and???
Let’s deal with some real issues and not get distracted by this
Ms. Daniels is 100% Spot On. The PLP is a sectarian movement that to use the words of Renee Webb resents “those who do not look like me.” I do think that politics which embrace diversity and generally liberalism are far superior to this which is why the OBA in my view is presently Bermuda’s best hope.
I am pretty much the opposite: I don’t live in a black neighbourhood, my child does not go to public school, my husband is not Bermudian, I went away to university, I don’t belong to the union and I don’t support any political party. NONE of that is important. I am a REAL Bermudian because:
I greet everyone I see.
I think it’s my duty to keep our traditions alive.
I make my own cassava pie, fishcakes and hot cross buns.
I make the best codfish breakfast in the country.
I love Good Friday and make at least one kite every year.
I go to the parades and the Ag Show.
I very rarely go East past town because I’m from the west end of the island.
Most of all I think Bermuda is the best place on earth.
THESE things make me Bermudian. Can we not just celebrate those things that unite us?
This is one Dumb column that really irritated me! what the heck are you talking bout!? Im a real Bermudian,who went overseas to school, graduated and is certified in my profession and I have put 3 children in school and the last one in University, now. so whats a real bermudian!?
So you are in agreement with the author then?
or did your certification not teach you comprehension? Seriously, how by reading this article did you not realize that the author was making the case that everyone born with or through status, despite their race, background is Bermudian? Hopefully your last child in University will stop by tonight and educate you.
Please read the entire story, not just the first little bit.
You’ve completely missed the point of the article. It defends you.
Proverbs 17:28 For Even the fool is thought wise if they keep SILENT!
I agree with what she is saying – there seems to be a reverse racism syndrome amongst many black bermudians whereas if you dont meet their criteria you are ostracised…it borderline tribal!
Racism is racism.
Calling it “reverse racism” just validates the myth of “Black people can’t be racist”.
It’s just plain racism.
Toni brings up relative feelings and opinions.
Then we all (cept mee) turn it into race.
And therein lies it all.
Shalom.
I need 100 dislikes and that will prove her point and mine.
Let your fingers do the walking because your not used to talking.
Shalom.
Wow Ms. Daniels, you have Sherri J going off her head today!!! You made her smoke!! Lol.
But seriously, great article, and so true.
When bloggers say Bermudians are not qualified for certain jobs , when they say they are lazy , stupid , can’t make time , won’t work weekends , holidays or odd hours , I often wonder what Bermudians they are referring to ?
This one, I agree with you.
I can’t stand that myth that Bermudians are, in general, lazy, etc.
Some are, sure, just like some Americans are, some Canadians are, some English folks are.
I’m not sure if as many people in the “real Bermudian” group actually feel the way Ms. Daniels describes or if that’s more something that “fake Bermudians” think “they” think. Allow me to explain……
I was never around any Bermudians that were my age that weren’t the same race as me until I was 17…,,I never thought about them or what their lives were like or anything. I met many Bermudians outside my race at Bermuda College and we were all cool….partied together liked the same music etc.
A few years later a girl I was friends with said she hated it when people asked her if she was Bermudian and I was surprised that it bothered her. The few times I was mistaken for not being Bermudian I felt flattered.
I would think this sort of thing happens to minorities all over the world maybe with the exception of the Great Melting Pot that is America. English and French born blacks and Jamaican and say Haitian born whites probably experience the same thing Ms. Daniels speaks of.
Sorry to say that as long as there neighborhoods that are predominately one race in this country and we continue to socialize separately and worship that way etc. the idea of us, them and “real” and “fake” will continue in SOME people’s minds.
Sometimes authenticity or the lack thereof is only noticed by the person that is trying to fit in……they have no idea that they were never thought of as not belonging.
Valirie,
Whats the difference between a white Portuguese and a Black/Hispanic/French Italian…..et al.
Wow…..
It is astounding to me that so many of you have misinterpreted this letter.
If you aint black and you don’t speak with that Bermy uneducated accent ypu aint Bermudian!!!!
vote PLP
I agree with what someone said earlier, its not a racial issue, its a class issue.
The upper class will continue to look out for the “Upper Class”.
Mike hind is a fool that plays a wannabe guitar…..goof
Here we go again. Spineless cowards taking potshots, too scared to address my points, so they hide behind fake names and make bizarre and pointless personal attacks.
You, “liars”, are what’s wrong with politics in Bermuda today.
If you REALLY cared about Bermuda, you’d grow a spine, come out from behind the hood and have an actual, honest conversation.
Until then, you just keep proving that you’re nothing more than a coward and a liar.
all we need now is the other OBA Lady Senator Swan to write an op Ed on her ZBM interview where she said racism was irrelevant and doesn’t exist in Bermuda
What are these guys, sorry Ladies, given as an inducement to come in public with this kind of logic? It must be pretty valuable to put yourself in the firing line for stuff that is fundamentally as odds with the daily reality of the majority who live in Bermuda
130 comments about this nonsense
0 comments about the BII award recipients
watch while the movers and shakers pass you by
Well judging by the number of replies , it seems that Toni has achieved what she insidiously set out to accomplish . That is to get blacks fighting against blacks online and to allow the ignorant white bloggers to champion their racist position in a comfortable environment . Well done Toni you’ve managed to pull one over the masses .
Coffee refuses to play by your rules …. You smell fishy .
You have a vivid imagination, don’t you?
You must do, if you believe the complete fabrications and rewriting of reality that you post.
None of this is even remotely true.
I asked this lower down the page, but I have to ask again:
If the truth of the thing is so wrong, why do you have to lie about it to make your point?
What a load of crap! I want my 4 minutes back, thanks Toni I’m guessing you have had lot of time on your hands lately to draft this nonsense
OMG…i can’t believe this s#!t…and you all wonder why others think that Bermudians are dumb…it’s right here in black n white. I say the racist ones are the ones that love to take s#!T out of context…only children and fools find fault with unfinished work. Also give this 2000 job subject a break because its boring…what did you think..? did you actually think that the OBA was gonna produce 2000 jobs out of thin air ..?if you thought that, then that’s why you are called dumb…also this word “Entitlement” which has been used to describe you all is sounding more n more true…go out n start a business and become employers, then get back to us on your blogs to let us know how you got rich by employing the unemployable..just ask a few of the real Bermudian contractors that were dying until they hired foreign workers,i could go on forever but it’ll be a waste of time as usual.
Bermuda for Bermudians and anyone else who will positively contribute to the success of my country,my mother would always tell me…..never cut off your nose to spite your face.
There is a difference between white sand and the dust of the ground. Dust is brown and the whole human race!!!
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” Nelson Mandela.
Never have I come across such open racism since South Africa under Apartheid. When I overheard someone proclaim at the Ag Show ” Look a sea of Caucasians” I was shaken. I did look – I saw a rainbow with one racist stain.
As much as I am struck by the massive discrepancy in the distribution of wealth in Bermuda which seems to follow racial lines, I am also struck by the relative wealth of all. And the materialistic culture of entitlement.
Appreciate your diversity. Appreciate your foreign market and guest workers. Appreciate the colour of your money. Take responsibility for the massive inflation.
Man was form from the dust of the ground, and aaaaaaaallllllllllllll people passed down from generations!!!! Regardless of the way you think, hair you perm, lipstick you make believe to be unaware what you truly look like without it, high for drugs, or cartoon speeches. That’s a fact!
Toni, gurl go sit yourself down, another nail in the coffin for the OBA!
The PLP stopped using “born” Bermudians when they realized those such as Paula Cox were not born here. They then went to “real” Bermudians. What does that mean ? Is Wanda Brown (Dr Brown’s wife a real Bermudian, although, like he was for a time, American?) Is Alex Scott’s wife a real Bermudian and the list goes on.
Jamaica solved the issue by having its motto as “Out of Many One People”. Jamaicans are Jamaicans, not black, pink, brown, white, yellow or anything else between.
Where was Walter Roban born?—-lol
Real Bermudian,what’s that? Am I a real Bermudian,I’m confused.
What utter rubbish.
This, “insight into the racial situation in Bermuda that others might not have,” comes entirely from a biased political perspective.
“Real Bermudians are black. They live in black neighbourhoods, their children go to public school, their partners are other real Bermudians, they don’t go away to school or university, they belong to the union, and they support the Progressive Labour Party.” – What evidence or experience draws her to come to such an untrue, absurd, and unsubstantiated conclusion. Majority of the black community and PLP does not share this view.
“If you fail to meet the criteria and you don’t get special exemption, you’re a surrogate, you’re a puppet, you’re a suspect or a fake…” – Here is this word surrogate again. Surrogate first appeared in a UBP Strategy document written by a white man addressed predominately to a white audience. This document at the very core was racist as hell. Why don’t you speak to this?
“All those whites and others of whatever colour who join the PLP are probationary real Bermudians.” Again, untrue, absurd, and unsubstantiated. To act like you were going to talk about the real racial divisiveness that does exists on this island then go into the blame game saying it’s PLP that have the problem with race is derogatory at the least and a slap in the face to blacks, the PLP and their supporters. As if the racial issues come all from the PLP.
“But I think most people know what I’m talking about.”Who are most people? People in your circle, people in your party, that are eating up this crap to validate their own racial biased opinion of PLP, there supporters, and black people?
“To the extent that they recognise the economy was driven to the brink of failure by the PLP, they overlook or excuse the failure because it happened in the effort to help real Bermudians.” We know the “THEY” you are talking about are black people. To be clear blacks (THEY) have not overlooked or excuse this failure. How can I make this comment? Well, the only reason why the OBA is in government is because (THEY), black PLP supports decided not to overlook or excuse this failure by choosing not to vote and by some actually choosing to vote for the OBA. So this comment by you is a fallacy.
Will we ever be able to move forward together? Yeah, when people like you in your public position actually address (publicly discuss) the REAL issues of the racial inequalities that plague this island. Until you and others stop playing politics with this issue, we will never be able to move forward together, because based on this racist and derogatory article the only people that have racial issues are PLP and their supporters.
For example, one real racial inequality that appeared in one of the local newspapers in 2009 or 2010 which is still true today, that statistics show that a black male who has obtained a 4 year degree from a good university can come back home to the island, and still be paid less than his white male counterpart doing the same job who only has a high school diploma. This is only ONE example, and there are many more, of the “REAL RACIAL SITUATION” in Bermuda.
Well judging by the number of comments it seems that Toni has achieved what she insidiously set out to accomplish . That is to get blacks fighting against blacks online and to allow the ignorant white bloggers to champion their racist position in a comfortable environment . Well done Toni you’ve managed to pull one over the masses .
Coffee refuses to play by your rules
You have a vivid imagination, don’t you?
You must do, if you believe the complete fabrications and rewriting of reality that you post.
None of this is even remotely true.
I asked this lower down the page, but I have to ask again:
If the truth of the thing is so wrong, why do you have to lie about it to make your point?
As a white Bermudian I’ve never let the “Real Bermudian” code word for blacks bother me. Who was on the Sea Venture when they ran into that hurricane and the survivors sought shelter on this island and founded it? They were all white Englishmen and women. I in no way deny blacks their rights as Bermudians, but there is a reason the PLP all but ignored Bermuda’s 400th anniversary in 2009.
As a white Bermudian I don’t let the “Real Bermudian” code word for blacks bother me. Bermuda was founded by white English men and women in 1609. I’m not saying blacks aren’t real Bermudians or anything like that, but there’s a reason why the PLP all but ignored the 400th anniversary of founding of Bermuda in 2009.
NO WONDER DE GOOD LORD HAD LIGHTIN STORMS DE OTHER NIGHT
some of u show ur true colors sad but funny
ާ
\▐
The problem is that many people in this island find that the truth is a bitter pill to swallow. Stop living in a bubble.
Great article by Ms. Daniels which has clearly touched a very raw nerve amongst those who feel that she has no right to call herself of “mixed race”. Quite frankly, if Ms. Daniels cannot call herself of “mixed race” then no one on this good earth can do so. Now she is being attacked for not considering herself to be a “black Bermudian”. This sort of criticism takes pettiness and and personal attacks to a new level. I would like to think that one day in the not too distant future all of our children in Bermuda will be of mixed race so the hate mongers and racists will simply have nowhere to turn!
The lady was on TV tonight blaming the PLP for her declaration of war on the black community in Bermuda.
One thing that I notice all those black supporters of the OBA are particular vicious when they mount their political attacks against the PLP’s black political support base. That’s why we will take no prisoners when we meet them on the political battlefield.
“Her declaration of war on the black community”?
Are you even remotely serious with this nonsense?
Come on.
It’s never been said when it is pointed out that only British citizens where on the Sea Venture hit the rocks at the East end. It is an unspoken British claim to these isles. But here is what I say Bermuda is not the Falklands Islands . If the English wanted to claim this Island for themselves alone; they should have never brought my African ancestors here as slaves nor should they have taken native Americans off the battlefields of the than East coast of what later would become America; as prisoners of war and brought them to Bermuda. When they did that they change the destiny of this country forever.
With this post you tell me and many others, black and white, that you have a serious hate on for white people.
Let’s not forget that history but don’t make it define you.
She’s right, but she’s wrong!
Well judging by the number of comments , it seems that Toni has achieved what she insidiously set out to accomplish . That is to get blacks fighting against blacks online and to allow the ignorant white bloggers to champion their racist position in a comfortable environment along side with the blacks among us who thrive off the validation of white people and are always seeking constant approval from their white heroes .Well done Toni you’ve managed to pull one over on masses.
Nope. Nothing here is true. As usual.
Again, I have to ask: if the truth of it is so bad, why do you have to lie to denounce it?
The PLP hate anything British.Just listen to Rolfe and then go to Dockyard and see the buildings that the British accommodated.
Far too many people are being distracted by the rhetoric. Who is who and what “race/colour” they are. I’ts absolutely insane when in reality we are one…We are humans no-matter what skin tone you are!I further believe all this talk about “race”, (black white half black half white) to be no-more than a carrot on a stick to lure people on in a direction that will / does obstruct reality.
OBA: ‘We Will End The Politics Of Division’
July 3, 2012 | 45 Comments
[Updated] “The Government’s proposed ‘debate’ on the idea of an Equality Act is just another example of an ‘all talk, no action’ government,” said Senator Toni Daniels, Shadow Minister for Youth Affairs and Family.
Senator Daniels continued: “Its proposal demonstrates a serious failure to lead on an issue of fundamental importance: Are we a society that will allow discrimination – in any form – to remain on its books?
“The OBA is committed to removing all forms of discrimination, as our leader Craig Cannonier said in The Reply to the Speech from the Throne last November:
“We will not leave anyone behind. We will eliminate all forms of discrimination. We will end the politics of division and show Bermuda there is a better way. That is where our future lies.”
“If the Government truly believed in a society without any vestige of discrimination on its books it would have brought forward legislation proposing real equality for all.
“Instead, it has proposed a talkfest without making a commitment. Its ‘take note’ motion for the House of Assembly is an exercise in avoidance and a sham. Imagine legislators of Bermuda being asked to debate whether citizens of Bermuda should be treated equally. Really? Are they serious?
“It says to us the Government has put internal political calculation ahead of moral imperatives,” continued Senator Daniels.
“Instead of bringing forward actual legislation to make this a more fair and equitable society, they are proposing a debate for consensus on a fundamental issue. It is a dodge and an outright failure to do the right thing and lead by example.
“We challenge the Government to bring forward an Equality Bill that reveals its intentions. And we urge the Press to press the Premier and her colleagues on this matter. Why not move an Equality Bill? The Government will get its ‘consensus’ when MPs vote on the Bill. Stop playing games.
“It is unacceptable that a country such as Bermuda, with its history, should have any form of discrimination on its books. This is not about endorsing any kind of lifestyle. This is about making sure Bermuda has learned from its history to build a model society that enables all of us to live together as equals,” concluded Senator Daniels.
Wow! I was excited to read the article by Toni Daniels but when I finished I was not sure what she said. Is she a OBA or PLP supporter? As an outsider who loves Bermuda I had figured out the party alliance by reading the Bermuda News. The Bermuda I remember was grand and a cut above other islands. I have to agree with posts from The Grand Architect and TSOL. Bermuda should be the main concern for each party, not the color of skin.
I find this very offensive by her comments. I am a young BLACK Bermudian who lives in a BLACK neighborhood, I went to a private school AND I attend college AND I voted for OBA so what does that make me?
Keep reading.
I’m a young BLACK female who is attending college and also went to a private school and voted for OBA! What am I considered as. Please someone tell me.
I live in a BLACK neighborhood and I also went to a private school and voted for OBA. Not to mention I attend University. What does this make me? Please someone explain to me.
I think instead of real Bermuda she should have said the Average Bermudian.
I think instead of real Bermudian she should have said the Average Bermudian.
But that’s not what the people who think that there are “real Bermudians” call it.
She’s describing a specific mindset and attitude.
You’re correct that there is use of the “Average Bermudian” codeword AS WELL as “real Bermudians”, but it’s not an “instead” thing.