Opinion Column: Women, Gangs & Empowerment

October 5, 2010

[Written by Kristen White – Member of the Bermuda Democratic Alliance]

Our young black men are killing each other – 11 murders in 18 months.

Our young black men are dropping out of school – 50% of them do not graduate from public school.

Our young men are not gaining the life skills they need to be successful – a survey in 2007 showed that 64% of the young males tested achieved scores that were below the adequate level to fully function in a knowledge-based society.

Yes, we know it’s happening, but we want to know why. Why are we losing our men? The Government has spent time and money on this question. A research study was commissioned; a task force set up. Well, while our government focuses on that question, I would like to ask another one: What about our women?

For quite some time the focus and attention has been on our black males. It is believed that the black women are fine. They are winning scholarships, and they have great jobs, thus our men need the attention. So in the last decade the vast majority of our country’s resources that was up for grabs went to serve men instead of women. Let’s set up this task force to examine what is going wrong with our men.

Whilst funding has been directed to funding to programmes that work with boys such as football and cricket, not much has been done for women. Was any extra funding dedicated to female activities like netball and majorettes? (Or are women still playing netball on broken down Bernard’s Park when a new court could have been put up at National Stadium in addition to the ‘top o’ the line’ football and cricket pitches?)

Why do I say attention is needed for the black women in addition for the black male?

The same study I just mentioned said that whilst 64% of young men scored below adequate life skills and literacy levels, 56% of young women did too. Do you know that young girls are forming gangs of their own, and are also engaging in violent crimes? Do you know that there are reports of young girls having sex for money? And that there are also reports of women being raped by men in gangs as initiations?

Consider this: of our young men that have been gunned down in gang warfare, how any had girlfriends or wives? How many had mothers? How many had sisters, nieces and goddaughters? How many have aunties, nanas, and godmas? And now… how many leave behind young daughters to grieve?

To put it simply, how many men engaged in gangs, go home to a woman? All of them.

Now I’m sure that the current investigations into gun crimes include questioning the women in the lives of these men. And I do believe that women hold a key to ending the gang warfare. Women often sacrifice their needs for the needs of others, and now it is time for women to sacrifice their own needs for the needs of our nation. Yes, they should come forward and speak.

But I realise it isn’t that simple. I understand that many women need these men to provide for them financially and emotionally. I know that the women associated with these men know a side of them that is different to the one the public sees. We see them throwing up gang signs, and being hauled into court for crime after crime. But the women in their lives see them laugh at movies, hold their daughter when she sleeps, and take her mama the money she needs to buy her medication.

It must be difficult for them to reconcile the two, but I also believe women are strong, and they can do it. I hope they will. But even if they do and people are arrested for the current crimes, what are we doing to prevent future ones? So, I want to look to the future, because we can probably agree that things could get worse. Most certainly, things will get worse. How will we prevent another generation from carrying on the legacy of gangs?

I suggest to you that we must be proactive in tackling the issues with our young black men by starting with our young black women. Imagine if every woman stood up now and said, I will not have sex with a man in a gang. If every mother of a young man said, I will not lie to protect my son from the police. I will not justify his behaviours by saying, he isn’t in a gang – he just hangs with his friends.

If every mother of a young woman told her that she is worthy of more than a criminal. That she deserves a man who will be able to give her the best, and not jeopardize their lives together by committing crimes. If every nana said, I will let my grandson know that it hurts me to see him behave this way, and I will tell his children that nana does not want to see them doing the same thing as their father.

Imagine if every ‘baby-mama’ said, I will not raise my son in a way that encourages a gang lifestyle. I will not dress him like a mini gangsta when he is a baby, and when he is old enough to dress himself, I will make sure his pants are up. I will cheer him on at his football games and at his math test, and will make sure that he does not need to stand on the block to feel powerful. I will say that even though my son’s father is in a gang, I do not want him to be in one. I will try my hardest to prevent his father from taking our son into that atmosphere,

Imagine if every young woman realized that being attracted to the bad boy hardly ever works out well.

And imagine if we taught young girls to believe as Dr. Steve Perry said in his speech at The Berkeley Institute that choosing the ‘thug’ over the nice boy in class is the same as resigning yourself to a lifetime of heartache, and maybe even poverty or single motherhood.

How fast would the gangs be wiped out if every woman said it should be so?

So what am I proposing? What would the Bermuda Democratic Alliance do differently?

We would recognise the key role that women could play in taking our country forward, and empower them to do just that.

How?

1. Engaging the charitable sector to

  • A. Create a model for a girl empowerment programme – not one exists on the island. Review programmes like Girls for A Change, Girls Leap and others that have successfully helped young girls to break cycles and be agents for social change.
  • B. Develop parenting programmes, some specifically for single mothers of young sons. I remember about 6 years ago, the Government held an excellent series of workshops across the island on raising sons. The one that was held in St. George’s featured a school vice principal that looked at how boys learn differently from girls, and a police officer that helped us to understand how to keep our sons away from crime. There was a standing room only audience – an audience that was 90% women. But these sorts of things need to happen more than once, because many mothers are trying to raise men without the help of one.
  • C. Work with the private sector to provide grants to schools, charities and other non-profit and community groups (especially majorette groups) to help fund the implementation of these programmes.
  • 2. Ensure the Government-funded community centres play a major role in engaging and empowering young girls. The one in my neighbourhood does an excellent job of providing a safe space for boys to hang out on weekends. Boys aged 8 and up go there to play ping pong, football, basketball, and video games, but the only time I see girls there is when they are outside waiting to see the boys. The centres must ensure they have girl-focused activities so that they are inside engaged, not outside on a wall.
  • 3. Ensure that Government youth grants are going to organisations that serve young girls
  • 4. Create a bipartisan task force/conduct some research that examines the role that women have been playing in the gang violence.
  • 5. Help women to be financially independent – have special entrepreneurial and finance programmes for young girls.

And this would be just a start. The BDA’s platform for women includes many initiatives to help empower us, including exploring models for the workforce that embrace rather than alienate mothers.

Since having my son at age 16, I know firsthand that it isn’t easy to make it without support. And I know that most women are trying their best, and we deserve a Government that will do the same for us.

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Comments (113)

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  1. Jason says:

    Whoever wrote this article dont know wtf there talking about..Your not on the streets!! There are reports of this and that, bullsh#t..Thats all hearsay a##hole!! What proof do you have girls are selling themselves?!

    Kristen,? st#u.

    Another thing, you repeat the start to sentences over and over..Sh#t?! You failed to mention what white people have done to make the situation get this far..

    1. These monopoly businesses like D&J, Island Construction, Goslings, Lindo’s etc etc, that DONT HIRE black bermudians, and if they did its a damn labor position.
    2. The UBP Throwing all the black students into Berkeley and Cedarbridge, while taking there white children and putting them into Saltus & MSA.
    3. Making a big deal about weed, when everyone knows alcohol is way worst and does far more damage to humans.
    4. Housing crisis! All the rich white ppl have these HUGE houses tucked off on south shore and have never stepped foot into bermuda’s underworld, then they wonder why ppl are stealing/robbing there rich asses.

    I could have wrote a better article explaining the real deal, from the streets, about the streets..

    How much could you really know?? other then what you;ve heard throught the grapevine!!

    Damn Politicians think your journalist in BDA

    • Logic76 says:

      I see your “bacholors” degree in Computer Science has served you well. “I could have wrote”. Why don’t you take an elementary level course in English.

      Secondly, the UBP has nothing to do with this article, nor have they “thrown all the black students into Berkeley and Cedarbridge, while taking their white children and putting them into Saltus & MSA”. Saltus and MSA are private schools while Cedarbridge and Berkeley are public schools. Get your facts straight d*ckwad.

      • Tired of nonsense says:

        I suggest Jason go and ask all MPs, including the PLP, exaclty where there children attend school…

        • Opportunity says:

          @ tired of nenesense I suggest you do the same because for plp i can vouch for Glenn Blakeney whos children and grandchildren went to west pembrok along with neletha butterfeild. Nelson bascomes kids went to harrigton sound hmmmmm patrice minors kid went to school with mine and that most definetly isnt private. so maybe you should do the math yourself. Not jason

          • Tired of nonsense says:

            How many went and/or are going to Cedarbridge?

            I went to public primary school as well and would have no problem sending my kids (if any) to public primary school. That area does not seem to be the problem now does it.

            So how many went and/or are going to Cedarbridge?

      • Opportunity says:

        @ Logic 76 obviously you dont have a clue. However you should consider getting yourself a bit more knowledge. Who was the government in power when the mega schools where thought of and put into play???? The UBP is to blame. They continue to throw shots at PLP for certain things (to numerous to mention) when they are the ones who put most of these failing decisions into play. now because plp is in power and takeing time to fix what has been broken because of the UBP its PLP who has failed us? (i don’t think so) u better get a clue. or go back to blue and he can help u find them.

        • Tired of nonsense says:

          12 years…Cedarbridge was only in play for the last 3 years of UBP’s reign (I believe it was 1995, please correct me if i am wrong). 7 education ministers in how many years? So the PLP, whether you like it or not, does hold some of the responsibility for not rectifying the situation during their current 12 year reign, just as the UBP does for listening to foreign consultants at the time.

          But other than politicians it also the parents that are to blame. It seems that today’s parenting revolves around materialistic fantasies instead of the importance of education. I know one girl that has bought their 6 year old scramblers, balckberrys, gold chains, new kicks every week, better clothes than me, SUV with 20inch rims and then complain about not being able to afford one of the private schools. We as a people (it seems to be the whole western hemisphere) needs to get our priorities straight like they used to be back in the day.

    • D says:

      @ Jason

      I agree with most of your points mate.

      US Statistics shows that blacks are the least likely group to try illegal drugs. To balance that out, media portrays the opposite. In other words, Blacks use less drugs than whites.

      Moving beyond race, I thought this article was very well written., and very balanced. Most people don’t konw that women aren’t scoring much higher than we are.

      Regarding prostitution… what do you think is happening at these stag parties. We even have some of our women selling theirselves in University. I was in disbelief until I saw it FIRST HAND.

      Jason, you were dead right regarding these companies and their hiring policies. And all their HR staff need to do is a add a couple sentences to a job description to stop Bermudians from getting hired. The foreignor brought in does not actually need to do that ‘extra’ duties. I am one of the few Bermudians qualified to do what I need to do ‘on paper’, but since I only do 25% of my job description anyone can do what I do. HR staff makes our lives way harder than they need to be.

    • Tired of nonsense says:

      Also, the PLP has been in power for 12 years now and is still “making a big deal about weed.” How come you aren’t railing about them or the black dominated church goers who are still vehemently against any type of decrminialization/legalization of weed? Why?

      I am in total favor of lessening the penalties for simple weed possession and would readily vote for a candidate that made that a guarantee of their platform.

      And by the way I am white person with no property, paying rent to a black landlord who owns more than one piece of property by the way, and with no inheritance coming my way in the form of $$ or land. My chances of owning a piece of Rock are now slim to none due to the outrageous real estate prices and the equally ridiculous terms that the banks are offering.

      So this myth that all white Bermudians live in massive mansions in Fairylands, Tuckers Town, Harbor Road and South Shore is bullsh*t and another ploy of riling up hatred towards a WHOLE segment of Bermuda’s population based on lies.

      • One love says:

        co-sign that

      • Opportunity says:

        @ tired of nonesense you are one of very few. believe me. I have majority white friends who have less qualifications than i do BUT because they are who they are and they know who they know they get the best of jobs and obviously the more money. And weed will not be legalized because they would rather our young ppl drink alcohol rather than smoke weed because the drug alcohol allows us to be the worst person we can be vs weed which humbles us. Whoever legalizes weed has my vote also but until them. I vote plp who has paid my child care allowance.

        • Tired of nonsense says:

          No I am not. I know of alot of white people who are and will be in the same predicament as me as long as they stay in Bermuda (most leave to seek these opportunities abroad).

          There are two parts to white Bermuda as there is black Bermuda. Poor and rich. This stereotype that all whites are inherently rich is absoulte bullsh*t. Not every white Bermudian carries the last name Gibbons, Cooper, Goslings etc. So this mythical stereotype of all whites being born with a silver spoon up their backsides is just another generalization issued by the powers that be to pigeon hole one race of people and point at them as a whole as being the enemy. I find it offensive as I have and never will be part of the “40 Thieves” clan.

          “I vote plp who has paid my child care allowance.”

          Will you vote for them again since they have raised taxes which ultimately eradicates any sort of savings that you derive from the child care allowance?

        • Scott says:

          Did i read that correctly?

          they let blacks (or everyone?) drink because it makes them worse (and i assume “arrestable”), and wont let them have weed because they dont cause trouble when high???

    • Tigga says:

      ‘I could have wrote a better article explaining the real deal, from the streets, about the streets’

      Go ahead…..

    • Opportunity says:

      Jason I really do agree with you on everything you have stated; however here is a better way to say things and go about things which is one of our downfalls. I say our as I am a perpetrator of this also as alot of us are mostly due to frustration from society. There are black men out looking for jobs and black women doing the same we are being failed by our leaders we have been failed by them due to the making of the Mega schools however noone wants to take the blame. As it was the UBP who has put this into place they fail to take the blame for failing us young ppl. I believe you are absolutely right I have yet to see a black man in a leading position in These monopoly businesses such as D&J, Island Construction, Goslings, Lindo’s etc. what they tend to do is hire friends and family and forget others in the society. unless they want to wash the tools . your absolutely right jason. I think kristin needs to do some extra research to find out how many of our young Black men/women are actually putting in applications and being hired for job WE CAN DO! it does get frustrating and I feel your pain. However PLP had placed child care allowance into play. this has eased alot of worries for our young mothers but at the same time has its flws as its giving fathers no responsibility. its a win /loose situation for us black people. whites are for themselves if have seen it for myself if you walk into a white organization seeking employment either noone can help you or they hire you for statistics and find a way to get rid of you. so jason I really do Agree with you. its a dog eat dog world. You hardly ever hear about what the white kids do wrong its always swept under a mat but as soon as a black child has come into contact with the law its blasted in the news. it seems as if there is nothing we can do about it. we have no power. but 1 person does have the power over all and it is the Lord so have faith Jason. Life soon sort out.

      • Tired of nonsense says:

        “However PLP had placed child care allowance into play. this has eased alot of worries for our young mothers”

        While that was a thoughtful initiative it was essentially counteracted by the corresponding rise in our payroll and a slew of other taxes.

        So while you are saving money on child care the increase of the foreign currency purchase tax alone has resulted in further hikes in the price of food and essential commodities. This is due to the fact that everything we consume is imported and thus purchased abroad with foreign currency.

        Also, rises in the aforementioned payroll tax, TCD licenses etc. also take away a little more of our disposable income making us that little bit poorer and Bermuda that little bit more unaffordable (as if weren’t the epitome of unaffordable to begin with).

        “You hardly ever hear about what the white kids do wrong its always swept under a mat but as soon as a black child has come into contact with the law its blasted in the news”

        Any examples to back up this conspiracy theory?

        • Opportunity says:

          yes I can say the young white boy who cursed of a police officer at ice queen he went off to school. how about the black men who supposedly cursed at police he was beaten by the police and nothing came out of it. another is the white boy from fairylands who was caught with the machete. where is he?? not at westgate. but how about the amout of black males who are at westgate right now for smaller weapons doing 3 years? is that enough or should I continue. and might i add this isnt a fight against black and white its just the difference in what we as blacks deal with vs. what the white population gets away with.

          • Tired of nonsense says:

            When has any kid, black or white, not been allowed to return to school because they cursed at a police officer? If you can provide an example of a black bermudian who was prohibited from returning to school because of the same offense then there is an issue. Are you aware of any?

            I know the guy you was beaten up by police. And the story that was told to me was that the foreign cop was a complete a##hole and that will now be taken to court.

            The kid wasn’t from faiylands, that is where it happened. He did time actually up West Gate, not 3 years though. But I see every week in the paper where people are getting suspended sentences for possessing a bladed weapon (depsite the mandatory 3 year sentence). Where’s your outrage?

            Also, what about my taxation points made? Any rebuttal?

          • Logic76 says:

            How about the black boy who killed Kellon Hill and got away on only manslaughter, and is now being spoken of as an angel for going through some rehab program? We can fight back and forth for years on race, until we get over it and tackle this country’s problems as a HUMAN RACE nothing will change.

          • Tired of nonsense says:

            Or how about the black bermudian, Bowen, who allegedly killed my mate Larry Thomas outside 4 Star in Somerset a few years back while allegedly driving under the influence in his work van. This was the same guy who, while allegedly under the influence, allegedly shattered Gary Adams’ knee no longer than 6 months before and did not get sent off the road. No instead they let him retain his license and then proceeded to carry on and ended up allegedly killing Larry, who was on his way home from work at Salt Rock Grill. And what happened when he went to court for that case? He got off on a technicality, while Larry remains dead and his two children without a father!!!

            Or maybe you would like to talk about Rebecca Middleton instead?

            My point is that no matter what color you are the justice system in Bermuda is better categorized as a “mis-justice” system which protects the perpetrators more than the actual victims. There are more than enough examples of both black and white bermudians being treated unfairly or have been let off the proverbial hook when basic common sense dictates otherwise.

        • D says:

          [You hardly ever hear about what the white kids do wrong its always swept under a mat but as soon as a black child has come into contact with the law its blasted in the news”

          Any examples to back up this conspiracy theory?]

          From the outside looking in it does seem like race is the issue… it isn’t. Joe Bloggs and Joe Black can get off if they have the right links.

          We need to move past race.

        • NWO says:

          It’s not conspiracy theory, it’s conspiracy FACT!! Just read their books and documents, it’s right in front of your face. You just have to be willing to think outside the box and study for yourself! Google “The Obama Deception” you really can’t make this stuff up, it’s so blatantly right in your face!! In Bermuda we see it on a smaller level, who owns Bermuda? People can’t be naive… America isn’t a country, it’s a CORPORATION and the President is exactly that!! President of America Inc. How about this for a conspiracy theory, There are 3 CITY STATES that run the world! They don’t pay any taxes, they don’t answer to anybody, and they have their own laws, police, prisons, and constitutions! They are Washington D.C., London City, and The Vatican. Look into that, that’s why we’re all having this discussion because for centuries they have been studying people and learning how to control them! We have become a consumer nation like you said, we import EVERYTHING!! It’s all about what can I get for less, they use it as a ploy to keep us distracted while they set up a GLOBAL dictatorship, totalitarian, government!! Hence the NEW WORLD ORDER!! I said it, so sue me!!

          • D says:

            @ NWO

            Everyone has a doomsday theory. The New World Order theory has far too many plot holes. It’s makes assumptions of individuals religious beliefs, and there clearly is a poor understanding of these religions.

            When I was living abroad people were telling me that Bermuda, the Isle of Man, Luxemburg and Switzerland composed the New World Order. In the placest you mentioned they might consider it to be in Asia. Intellectuals want to give their lives more meaning so they invent they ‘fantastic’ stories.

            How much time have you spent in Vatican City?

          • Logic76 says:

            @NWO: Except you’re 100% wrong. You’ll find, if you read further, that the U.S. Government does owe (and pay) debts to foreign nations. If anyone is going to be the leader of the “New World Order” it will be the Chinese, who are owed billions of dollars by the U.S. Government. Hence why congress has shut up on export/import tariffs from China.

    • Uncle Ruckus says:

      Jason spoke what no one wants to speak about. That is TRUE! People don’t like to hear it. Shit is f#cked up. Black people can’t get ahead. Ever heard of 10% of the population owns 90% of everything? Ask Michael Dunkley and his family. They own the MAXIMUM amount of property you can legally own in Bermuda which is what 90 something? Ask him why he pays his workers $700 a week while he is sitting on millions. Ask him why his daughters went to private school and these are the people who want to run the government? All about POWER! Narcissism! That’s all for now.

      Jason I give you two thumbs up for that comment!

    • Wisdom says:

      Yeah Jason, I could have wrote a better article explaining the real deal, from the streets, about the streets too. I almost fell asleep reading this article.

      WOMEN are NOT the solution. This is a man’s world – women follow behind. “Imagine if every woman stood up now and said, I will not have sex with a man in a gang.” I had to laugh at that one.

      • Uncle Ruckus says:

        Wow someone wasn’t given enough attention as a child. Either that or you’re gay. Take it? Enjoy prison.

  2. Jim Bean says:

    Wow. Jason – you are a bitter man!

  3. Real Talk says:

    @ Jason – You don’t have to be a weatherman to know when it’s raining outside…

    Talk about misguided and misdirected anger. And WTF do white people have to do with any of this?! Last I checked the victims were black as were the perpertrators… Place blame where the blame really lies. With the individual. Stop making excuses for bad behaviour. That’s one of the reasons we’re in the mess that we’re in.

    • D says:

      Some of the perpertrators are white as well. I’ve seen white bermudians, with guns, machetes, and samurai swords. I allege I’ve scene illegal weapons in UBP politicians’ houses. Not everyone is shown on television when they are ‘arrested’ for a crime.

      • Real Talk says:

        @ D – I’m not suggesting that white Bermudians don’t own guns, swords, machetes, etc or aren’t involved in nefarious activities. That would be a very naive and racist mindset… That said, I have yet to see any young white males affiliated with this “Parkside” or “42″ madness featured on the front page of the RG either as victims of gun crime or perpertrators suggesting that as much as it is a problem that involves ALL of us, there is a specific segment of the community that is more directly under seige.

        Furthermore, cries of who has what starts to ring hollow, particularly when we’ve had a so-called black, Labour Government for the better part of 12 years now… If you look at the ages of the young men currently before the Courts and listed as victims you will see that most actually came of age under the current Government. Not looking to lay blame… just tired of everybody pointed fingers and unwilling to accept that personal responsibility is the ultimate responsibility.

        • D says:

          That is a very disturbing correlation. I would like to see that explored further.

          • Logic76 says:

            Ok since everyone else is throwing the race card around here – How many white males have you seen in the paper being targeted by the recent shootings?

        • Uncle Ruckus says:

          Oh please. White folk aren’t involved because they are already set. I don’t like to use race but this is something that does need to be talked about more. White people live in their big houses hidden behind trees in gated areas with plenty of space around them and the next house. Not all but a majority do, I’ve seen it houses you’d never think you’d see in Bermuda MANSIONS. Black people in Bermuda are packed into small areas, in small apartments with multiple people. Things that happened in this country 50 years ago is still affecting Bermuda and BLACK PEOPLE today. White people don’t have any thing to be angry about, they don’t need to sell drugs, and all the other factors that involve why these guys are in gangs. It’s so many issues to be discussed.

          • bdashotta says:

            @UncleRuckus…what rock ya been hidin under. Who says all white people live in a big mansion on d hill. Um white and I stay in a shared apartment. Who says white people don’t sell drugs…I know pure white guys that sell drugs, ain’t just a black and white thing. I know white guys that are in gangs…and what?? The majority of bermy is black, that’s why the majority of people brought before the courts are black.

          • Scott says:

            “live in their big houses hidden behind trees in gated areas with plenty of space around them and the next house.”

            lol sounds like our premier

        • bdashotta says:

          Um white and um reppin’ my neighborhood for life. Anything else to claim…?

          • Uncle Ruckus says:

            You are a moron. That’s the problem people like you think it’s a joke. I guess your convenient eyes missed this part “Not all but a majority do”. If a majority of the country is black why are the majority poor and just getting by? Thanks for telling me white people sell drugs, thanks a lot Sherlock.

  4. jredmond says:

    Jason,
    How does one expect to be hired for anything more than a labour position when they don’t have any education. The opretunity exsists on this island, even for those with no financial backing to get excellent training and education. Blaming others for ones personal failures is extremely conterproductive and just plain whiney. People have to take personal responisblity for their actions. Success isn’t just given to you on a silver platter. There are plenty of black men and women who are just as sucessful as there white conterparts even though they came from ‘nothing’, because instead of being in the street, they choose to be in the classroom. Get off your ass and make something of yourself and stop crying about what other people have.

    • D says:

      @ jredmond.

      That is a very unfair statement. As an individual in the corporate world, I see women hired straight out of secondary school without any qualifications and men being turned away. These are facts, not excuses.

      A VP of HR told me that companies prefer to hire black woman over black men. The innocent should not suffer for the guilty.

      It is so much easier to blame to victim.

      • Interesting says:

        But yet you, a black male, have a job in the ‘white supremacist” black people hating” oppressors” corporate world…interesting

        • D says:

          I sincerely don’t believe that race is the core issue regarding the hiring process. IMHO we have much greater problem on a national level and that is what I would like to change.

          Bermudians as a whole are being discriminated against. We are being crushed into middle level jobs and insulted by foreignors in the boardroom.

          *My sole point in my last comment was that it is harder for an under-educated black male in bermuda than an under-educated black female.*

          I went Bermuda College before I went to Uni. It would not have been affordable. I also worked full time while I was in school. As a result of living and working abroad my accent has changed slightly and some foreignors mistake me as non-Bermudian. That’s when I hear offensive remarks.

          • Tired of nonsense says:

            “Bermudians as a whole are being discriminated against. We are being crushed into middle level jobs and insulted by foreignors in the boardroom.”

            I am with you on that one. Look at the top executive positions within all these massive IB companies. How many of these indivudals are Bermudian?

          • observer says:

            Having a foreign accent as well, I’ve found that most (not all) negative comments come from Bermudians.

          • D says:

            @observer

            IMHO, I feel that some Bermudians make these negative comments to separate themselves from the rest of us. I noticed that a lot when I was in Uni. The foreignors are learning these negative things from us.

          • Scott says:

            To be honest, Tired of nonsense, i think it is unfair to complain that these IB companies do not have Bermudians in the top executive positions. I very much agree that it would be nice, but remember these companies are pulling talent from all over the world.. and each company only has a handful of people at that level.

            To assume that just because the company is here, therefore they HAVE to replace one of these positions with a bermudian would only make them run away. they are businesses, not job charities. For those top exec jobs, it’d be like trying to catch one grey snapper in an ocean of red snappers.. same way we dont produce medal winning olympians often or world cup football teams.. etc.

            (ps although i say they are not “job charities”, i am refering to top lvl jobs. Middle and lower tiers definitely should have some sort of bermudian bias.

      • jredmond says:

        women hired straight out of high school normally are given secratarial positions no? A position most men wouldn’t want.
        Besides my comments where in regards to complaining about only being able to get labour positions when then don’t have any education, which is what this artical is about.
        Also, you say you work in the corporate world, well I work in the construction industry, and to say many of the young Bermudians in that industry lack work ethic is an understatement. I am the first one to admit that the ammount of foriegn workers in the construction field is fucked the fuck up, but with the attitude that some Bermudians come in with, what do you expect these companies to do. It makes absolutely zero business sense to hire and keep on staff somebody that doesn’t want to work.
        Those that show initutive and work hard will always succeed no matter their race. They will never be victims

  5. Sunshine says:

    I think that this opinion column is just that..an opinion and it’s nothing wrong with expressing your views but unfortunately there’s always someone to crush your views. I may not agree with everything that Kristen wrote but I believe that there are a lot of truths in there and some things may be a bit unrealistic but at least she’s offering some new ideas. Sorry Kristen but every guy in the world has flaws and does that mean that they don’t deserve a chance to love and change. The so called nice guys have flaws too, they just don’t fight or sell drugs but it’s unfair to put a label on these guys and you don’t know a thing about them. I do applaud your courage for writing this and expressing your opinion even though it didn’t go over to well with Jason LOL. But he’s entitled to his opinion as well

  6. concerned says:

    Jason Darling you have no clue!! Stop blaming society for your failures! There are only 60,000 people in Bermuda, all you need are two high schools. What you do in these schools is totally up to you! There are MANY black adults that graduated from public schools that are very successful! It’s a shame that people actually think like you. Slavery ended years ago….stop playing the race card and prove yourself! You sound like an uneducated..weed smoking..lazy black men!! GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND GET A JOB!! You were probably raised by a single mother in back of town and heard your mother blame society for everything she couldn’t get! HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF!! SHAME SHAME SHAME.

    • Get a clue says:

      Concerned,

      You need to acknowledge the great fault in judgment that creating two senior schools actually was. Think of it from this perspective; before the two schools were created students would choose which school they would like to go to and would often be separated from their neighborhood friends once they began high school, as I was when I started Berkeley. Having 5 different schools causes you to start anew and meet new people. Once there were only two schools there was an extremely great chance that a good portion of your neighborhood friends would attend your school. With a culture of violence and territorial behavior already established well before the implementation of these schools, this does nothing but reinforce the geographic divide that we consider gang warfare. Instead of meeting new people at school you hang with the people you know, that you caught the bus with to school that morning. Your need to meet new people and assimilate to the school and its culture was made redundant. Ask anyone that has attended any of the two mega schools they will tell you that groups within the school are divided along the lines of where they live, not what their interest are or their compatibility, which was the case before hand. By having these two schools people from different neighborhoods could easily recognize what other crews were around and who their members were. This does nothing but add fuel to the fire. Students have the perception that ‘I’m from town we hang here, those are the country guys they hang there and I recognize them all.’ Just being able to recognize different members of other clicks increases they likelihood that if you did have beef with that crew you would know who to target. So if that isn’t a mistake I really don’t know what is. I don’t believe the government had bad intentions when creating the two school system, but increased territorial conflict is a side effect which they failed to either acknowledge or notice.

      I live in the real world

      • REALIST says:

        @ GET A CLUE, WELL SAID!! I think a lot of people do not understand that or they just choose to ignore it. You had guys from town that went to Sands (Sandy’s for those that don’t know) and likewise guys that lived in Somerset that went to Whitney or a central school. Therefore when let’s say a guy from Somerset had a disagreement with someone from town. Usually that same Somerset guy had friends from his neighborhood that went to school with the person he was beefing with and they could defuse the situation and say “yo he’s cool” or whatever hence disagreement settled!! That used to happen a lot but like GET A CLUE stated that all went away with the incorporation of the two senior schools. This is fact not fiction, and the only part i would disagree with is in “my opinion”, the government KNEW exactly what they were doing!! Sad but true, nobody can tell me different!! All you have to do is look at a lot of the shooting victims or perpertrators, not ALL but majority where from those years when Cedar Bridge was first started and were in the first class to finish the school from freshman year to seniors. I know because even though I was fortunate to not attend Cedar Bridge most of those guys were my age and my year was the first freshman class of Cedar Bridge!!

        • Peace and Love says:

          @ get A clue…and Realist….As a parent of a student that was in the first group to attend Cedarbridge … I totally agree with you….the island was having problems with little groups here and there when all the high schools were open..little problems that they were not able to solve…but some brainiac thought that building just two schools and putting all the problems together would be the solution….several years later we are seeing that that was not the case…I am from “up the Country” and so is my son..when he was at Cedarbridge he would sometimes come home with his lunch money and I would ask him why he didn’t eat lunch and his reply would be “that the guys from town got there first and they wouldn’t let country in” also he would be late for class and the reason would be because “town” was on that particular staircase and not letting “country’ through and he would walk around.. I could give you a few more examples but I am going to stop right there for a moment..this just shows you how a little wound began to fester and grow…many problems existed and still exist at the mega schools but they are not brought to the publics attention..town and country disputes continue to happen in school but they are dealt with internally.. not the publics business apparently…..the same way there are shootings and stabbings and choppings that are not reported..just a few weeks ago a gun was held to a young mans neck..the trigger was pulled..but the gun jammed..the police are aware ..but it was not made public…Making negative comments against the people who blame it on the mega school system is senseless.. if you were not part of it and lived it then you don’t know..
          and please my people stop getting offended if someone uses race to get their point across..racism exists..it is alive and well…stop being so sensitive!!!!!!! it’s their opinion and no matter what the topic we will always agree to disagree…this thing called life is not always peaches and cream!!!!!! Peace and Love

  7. Allow me ... says:

    Jason , if you really believe what you say about what you think white people do , let me explain why they do it …

    It’s to keep themselves and their children far away from asshats like you !

    • Uncle Ruckus says:

      You mean n##gers? Yup they do. White folk don’t want their kids around us n##gers. They send the Asian nanny to pick them up and drop them off, another reason traffic is so congested in town yet mysteriously when they out of school it’s fine. Oh and another reason why they have their vacation breaks at different times then public schools. Nope can’t have their precious children around us black folk.

      • are you kidding. says:

        Really “Uncle Ruckus”?
        That is the mindset that makes Bermuda the way it is with racism.
        The people you are referring to are not just “white folks” – they are rich, snobby people, who had children and then realized they dont have a clue how to take care of them or are ‘too busy’ so they hire other people to cook, clean, and drive their children around.
        Nothing to do with Race. All to do with Money.

  8. Marlon says:

    The incoherent ramblings of Jason aside, this is a very pertinent piece of writing Kristen. The power that women have (overt or subtle) over the decisions that men make is an untapped resource that needs to taken seriously. I would hate to see this thread get derailed to attack an easy target i.e. Jason. It would be nice to see this idea explored further.

    • Peace and Love says:

      A very good article I might say..but why is everybody hating on Jason? he has the right to state and say how he feels…and @ concerned wow….how can you make that statement about how you think he mighr have been raised…I don’t agrre with everything he says but that’s his opinion…everytime I read articles on here and read others postings it never ceases to amaze me the venomm that is spewed because we are not all on the same page…name calling and putting others down because they have a voice is not right either..words can be the most painful violence..think before you speak…

  9. Jose says:

    Kristen,

    Your article is well articulated and should be commended. The challenge of course is implementation.

    I recently read the Report of the Royal Commission into the 1977 Disturbances (which is available on the Dept. of Statistics website) and found the following text:

    “The Commission suggested that the high cost of living made it mandatory for both parents in the household to work long hours, this depriving children of parental care. This is turn led young people to drift into the street in search of outlets for their energies, and from there to slip or to be led into lawlessness.

    This same report recommended a Bermudianization of Teaching and a recreational centre for youth in the Court Street area. Sadly, not heading this advice in the past has lead to some of the children of that time period growing up to be exactly what the Report warns against: disenfranchisement.

    Lastly, section 9.21. offers hope: “The political differences between Bermudians are not so very substantial and there is a general recognition of belonging together that needs to be cultivated.:

    Hopefully bipartisanship is the way forward. If political parties continue to get it wrong, maybe it’s time for the voting public to demand reform or elimination of the Westminster system. Sometimes there is too much hot air in the House of Assembly!

    All the best.

  10. REALIST says:

    First off I would like everyone to know that “MY” comments aren’t directed at anyone specific. Ok, we all can see that Jason’s comments weren’t grammatically correct but can we just focus on the content of his statements! Yes we know that “black” people have to work a little harder to gain “success” by being willing to make sacrifices to reach their goals. I don’t want to specifically blame slavery because you had slaves of many different ethnicities and colors throughout history. However, I’m a realist and if you can’t see what is really going on it’s because you don’t want to!! I just wanted to make a statement about the education system because there were so many contributing factors that lead to the current state that finding the smoking gun is kind of hard to do some 15 years later… um jus saying. My biggest problem is when people say stop blaming the PAST for our failures or lack of “success”!! First off, what is “SUCCESS” is it having a doctorate degree, law degree, accounting designation, a masters, or a Bs? Ok you have one of the degrees I just stated, but you’re in debt up to your head in student loans! Then you have a mortgage because man, nothing says “SUCCESS” like owning your own home along with your hard earned degree!! Now you work for a top corporate firm making six figures, you have a nice car, BIG flat screen and you can pay your bills on time. Is that “SUCCESS”? The problem is after all of that what do you really have? NOTHING… it’s like the MATRIX movie, we’re all living in a false reality!! I’m not gonna go into details because people will say, I’m an ass for thinking that or even saying something like that. All I want is for people to think outside the box, it’s nothing wrong with asking why are certain things happening so frequent? Why are our young black males and females under achieving? Don’t just accept the answers that we’re getting from our leaders no matter what field of “expertise” they’re from. Now about the article, it was very well written and I believe that it has a lot of truth. One of the things that slave masters used to make people dependent on them was to divide the family unit, which is the STRONGEST thing that we have. They made the FEMALE subservient to the MALE when in truth they should be EQUAL!! Black people have to “know thyself”, who’s history are we taught in school? Christopher Columbus, Sir George Somers, and the names could go on forever, these people do not LOOK like me so how is their history my own? Black people unite and study your history, because we can never go forward until we know where we’ve been! Homework for the night, since we’re ALL computer literate use a search engine and search the term “MAAFA 21” this word is Swahili for “THE BLACK GEONCIDE” some powerful stuff right from the horse’s mouth! I have no time to make this stuff up, it just hurts to see my people killing each other chasing a fantasy!! MONEY ISN”T REAL!!! Yes we all need it to live but it’s no more real than the Easter Bunny or Santa…. Just to clarify this is not a race based comment, just something for my people to think about!

    • Interesting Facts says:

      I am with you on your comments. We need to start to be realistic with what the real things are in life, not the materialistic. We need to know the past and learn from it for a brighter future.

  11. Get a clue says:

    Firstly the article is well written and a solution I feel is very practical and attainable.

    Jason I feel your pain and mostly agree with you.
    For those ‘white people’ that don’t acknowledge the legacy of slavery and segregation and how it impacts us even up to today, they are blind, which is probably no fault of their own but rather the result of the segregation of our races which still goes on today. With regards to the issue of segregation first let’s look at housing. When you think of any area where people reside in Bermuda most areas are either white or black, how many areas can you truly say are almost comprised equally of blacks and whites. I have lived in the same neighborhood for nearly 26 years and just recently are we having whites moving into the neighborhood. No i don’t live in town, but in Devonshire, outside of town at the border with smiths in a really nice neighborhood. The fact that we haven’t integrated in terms of housing/neighborhoods is great proof to the fact that segregation and more importantly the legacy of racial oppression is still alive. Next look at the school system. I’m not 100% sure of the date but blacks were relegated to public schools until 1959. IE, we were not allowed to attend private schools with white students until this date. You may now say, ‘Look how many blacks attend private schools now things have changed.’ Actually no they haven’t, how many whites attend public school? I don’t know a number but I know that from my year in Berkeley there were about 98 people in my graduating year and about 5 were white. If this is an accurate cross section of our community only 5% of public school students are white. So have these schools increased their quality of education to ensure a level playing field. No because most of the politicians back in the day didn’t see public school reform as a major issue, mainly because their children and the children of their friends and associates attended private school. They didn’t notice the need for changing our public school system. Lastly on the issue of segregation look at our circle of friends. I have friends of most ethnic groups/backgrounds. While abroad in school, my group of friends were made up of different ethnicities who actually ‘all’ hung around together. In Bermuda I have white as well as black friends. The overwhelming trend is that in Bermuda people hang around others that look like them. IE, with my black friends very rarely do whites come and hang out and vice versa. Each race seems to hold a bitter feeling about the others. This does nothing but reinforce the legacy of segregation. In order to end the segregation which I have proved occurs in terms of housing, schooling, and our social group we need to take individual action to ensure that we hang around a diverse group of friends. If we as Bermudians only hang around blacks, or only hang around whites the dream of true racial equability will never be attained. Personal responsibility is the only way to end this problem. Also black people do need to learn to take personal responsibility for their action as well as their future. I agree the whites have tons in institutionalized benefits which we are not privy to. However we do have ways to succeed, all it takes is hard work and dedication; something which may be lacking in our black community. Jason I feel you but its time we as black people realize that we are strong people we overcame slavery and segregation, and we can overcome this current situation even if others have an unfair advantage we can still make it.

    Real World

  12. Allow me... says:

    *I agree the whites have tons in institutionalized benefits which we are not privy to.*

    @ get a clue …

    Maybe you could then give us a ‘ton’ of real examples of this , where whites can get anything they want , do anything they want etc , etc simply because of ONLY the colour of their skin ….

    As a matter of fact I’ll settle for ONE practical , real and true example.

    I’ll wait , …

    • Get a clue says:

      Firstly, I would not waste my time to find an example for you where ‘whites get anything they want’ as you stated. If I were stupid I would try but I know the world does not work like that. But rather I can give you an example where whites do have it easier; have a competitive advantage over black.

      Education: Firstly look at who attends what schools. Most whites attend private schools. Is this coincidence? Is this due to all the scholarships they receive? Not likely. I would suggest that the answer is that the economic system was previously structured in way were blacks weren’t allowed to hold certain positions (jobs) therefore limiting the amount of money they could earn. If the blacks are conditioned/relegated to occupying all the lower level labor jobs I wonder who would hold the higher paying management jobs? Oh yes, the whites, they were the only option due to the relegation of blacks. Therefore the whites in their management positions making more money have the disposable income to afford private school (like they ever sent their children to public school in the first place). The blacks didn’t have the money to do so. How does this translate to a more privileged life for whites?

      Due to the fact that whites attended better schools, won’t they be able to get better jobs because of a better quality education? If whites occupy the management positions wouldn’t they give preference to their children and the children of their friends and associates who are better educated than the blacks that go to public school? The answer is yes, for a neutral reason; you want the best employees and white people received better educations. So by creating a permanent underclass the whites were able to sustain their wealth by ensuring that their children would have access to the best education, and later the best jobs available(also be ensure there is a glass ceiling)? Yeah they would give preference to their kids. What about the blacks. How do they get their come up? They don’t, they stay as a permanent underclass who aren’t educated enough for our knowledge based economy and whose children will never attend private school, and who will be relegated to the lower skilled jobs mentioned earlier.

      Some would ask how is the relevant today? My answer would be just look at the percentage of kids from each race that goes to what type of school. These are only assumptions but I would assume that about 70% of blacks go to public schools and about 90 percent of whites go to private school. I think this is much more than coincidence, but evidence of a legacy of segregation and economic superiority where whites are benefiting. How are they benefiting even though blacks are doing so well in the community in 2010? They are benefiting because 90% of their children (compared to 30% of blacks) will have access to a better quality of education which gives them a competitive advantage in the job market, making it more likely, (ie easier) for them to succeed became wealthy and continue the cycle.

      Please don’t be ignorant, and acknowledge the legacy of racism and the presence of institutionalized racism today. The more defensive you get trying to prove this issue isn’t real the more ignorant you seem to be. I’m pretty sure that you weren’t a slave owner or a proponent for segregation so you acknowledging the reality isn’t a bad thing, it’s the human thing to do. The signs are all around us.

      Real World.

      • jredmond says:

        Yes, you are right that there are reminants of institutional racism. The world cannot change completely overnight, but change is happening. This can be seen every year as the percentages of black children in private school rise. This is undeniable

  13. MCFC says:

    Firstly, I think everyone needs to stop directing all of their energies towards Jason’e comments. He was fortunate enough to be the first one to comment on this well written article, but railing on him for his opinion is not going to make him any less a bitter man. One key point about this article if you please is that altough it raises very valid points it also has a politcal purpose behind it. There is nothing wrong with political purpose but there is always a hidden agenda, i.e the female vote in this case. What I see in Bermuda and observe on these pages is a willingness for members of the public, might I add educated members of the public to comment on situations or articles like this one, but we offer no real solutions in our thoughts. Might I add Jason is obviously an educated man, otherwise he would have not read the entire article and comprehended it’s contents were he not? This brings me to my next point, we are the educated onlookers and opinionators but at the same time our messages as valid as they are do not reach to people who really need to read and understand them, why? Because the education standards in Bermuda on a public level have been so bad in the last 15 years we have produced lost generations, people who do not have the patience or intellectual resource to read the news, think about what affects their daily lives and what would make their lives and others better through change. The other audience who does not listen to the public is the Government, they really do not give a damn about what you or I have to say about this situation and many more. They deflect away from the real issues. If we are so concerned about our country we need to make a stand against the politicians in all parties, we need to group together outside the House on the Hill and let our voices be seen and heard. Speak to our MP’s really pile the pressure on, that issues like these are the deal breakers for their vote, but we don’t we vote on racial lines, that’s not the whole idea behind democracy that is not the reason why many political activists in history died for this cause . After all Politicians should be working for us, but instead they are working always for themselves. The education system in Bermuda is the foundation of our future and we bloody well need to do something drastic to sort it out. Mega schools were a terrible idea, but also Bermudianisation of the education system was also a very bad idea. Are we really competent enough to produce and international standard of education? Of course not!! Look at the results!!

  14. Kristin says:

    Thanks for all feedback.

    Although I don’t understand Jason’s approach, I agree with some of his comments – there is a housing crisis, and of course the debate over whether the ‘mega-school’ was the best option for Bermuda has been going on for years.

    However, that is not the focus of the article – the focus is how women can play a role in helping to address some of the social ills Bermuda is facing. So, as Marion said, it would be great to hear more discussion on this issue, versus going back and forth about Jason’s comments.

    And, just so that you all know where I am coming from, I have worked with youth in Bermuda for about 10 years, and am the ED for a charitable organisation that works with many at risk young people. I have also worked on many different education initiatives (Career Fair, College Fair, BEST, Sustainable Development etc). The reason why I am so passionate about working with at risk youth is because when I was younger, I was much like many of them – pregnant at 16, drinking and hanging out, not finishing school etc… sooo… this article didn’t just come out left field! I know alot about what is going on, firsthand.

    Anyway, as I mentioned would be interested to hear any comments re the topic at hand – do women have a role to play in Bermuda’s current social crisis or should the attention continue to be focused on the men?

    • Jose says:

      There is no need to downplay the approach Jason took in his comments. You wrote an article on empowering young women and he in turn told you to go f*ck yourself. This is a direct example of the increasingly inappropriate ways men speak to and treat women in our community.

      As for my opinion on your question, the focus shouldn’t be either on male or female, black or white. Education is the solution: we need to better teach and understand how we as homo sapiens have evolved as a civilized people throughout time.

      It;s hard for young people to integrate themselves in society when they don’t value its significance either because they haven’t been taught properly or because they aren’t part of a shared vision for the future.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5lMxWWK218&feature=related

      • Tired says:

        I think Jason’s response was symptomatic of the general lack of respect anyone shows to anyone else. I don’t think it’s just restricted to women.

        And, by the way- I’m a white Bermudian with a white (foreign) husband who hasn’t worked in two years. Highly qualified, and yet unemployed. We are hurting financially. His pride is hurting. As to the perks of being white, we haven’t seen those first hand. He can’t simply walk in anywhere and get a job- he’s tried. Everywhere. I worked HARD to get my job, I didn’t get it because I knew someone. We don’t own property, and we aren’t likely to be able to afford to do so any time soon. We have no inheritance on the horizon, either. WE are all in this together. Society is divided on economic lines, too. Maybe even more so than on racial ones…so please don’t paint with a broad brush. It’s hatemongering, and potentially inordinately damaging and dangerous. What if some crackpot decides it’s open season on white folk and I or a member of my family gets shot or killed??? When does this stop? When am I allowed to openly admit I love my country, and I want us ALL to live up to our potentials, without hearing some jibe about the colour of my skin????

        But I digress- Kristen makes some excellent points.

        I also believe we need to truly value our children to help beat the gang mentality. If we are giving them the sense of value and belonging at home, then the appeal of a gang could be significantly less. Every child is potential, every child is a treasure and a miracle. We need to love them into a community instead of forcing them out into the world.

        • Uncle Ruckus says:

          No perks you have experienced yet? Try being black for a week and you would realize you do get perks. I’m sorry about your situation though.

  15. True Dat says:

    All yall need to stop trippin!! You can analize and pic at this forever its not going to change BECAUSE It is a sign of the times we are living IN!!!! Sort ya life out and your family life out
    because we are seeing In BDA is nothing new it just that it has finally reached us!!!
    The Whole World is in turmoil!!!

    • D says:

      Crime in the US has dropped by over 40% in the last 15 years. We are all in an unnecessary state of fear due to the constant reminders of all the things going on in the world. Worst things have happened throughout history… we just didn’t get it on film.

      Regarding what’s happening on the island. This is new. And it is serious.

  16. concerned says:

    BERMUDA IS 24 MILES WHAT THE HELL DO YOU NEED CREWS FOR?? SO GOEVRNMENT WASN’T SUPPOSE TO MAKE 2 HIGH SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF “CREWS”?? SERIOUSLY. I ALWAYS SAID THAT BERMUDIANS WERE SMALL MINDED INDIVIDUALS..READING THESE “OPINIONS’ SURELY MAKES ME BELIEVE THIS IS TRUE!!! WOW..POOR…POOR BERMUDA.!!
    GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE STOPPED THE BUILDING OF TWO HIGH SCHOOLS BECAUSE THERE ARE “CREWS”!! BLAME THE “CREWS’ NOT THE GOVERNMENT!! DUH!!!

    THE ARTICLE WAS ABOUT THE ROLE WOMEN PLAY IN ALL OF THIS AND THEY PLAY A HUGE ROLE!!! LOOK AT ALL OF THE GIRLS UNDER 30 AND YOU WILL SEE THAT A LOT OF THEM HAVE KIDS WITH THESE THUGS!!!OUT OF WEDLOCK …MIGHT I ADD!

    I AM BLACK AND I WOULD STRUGGLE TO PUT MY KIDS IN PRIVATE SCHOOL BEFORE I CURROPT THEM WITH THESE THUGS AT CEDARBRIDGE AND BERKELY!!!

    SO GOVERNMENT IS TO BLAME FOR THE VIOLENCE BECAUSE THEY MADE TWO HIGH SCHOOLS!!! WOW!!! BERMUDA IS THE PLACE TO LIVE…

    • concerned says:

      Also…stop blaming white people and stop giving in to what they say about black people!! Some of them call us ghetto, uneducated and lazy and some like Jason give right in to the stereo type. Start proving people wrong. Stop the violence..get an education..start getting married before having kids start protesting if you think your being treated unfairly!! STOP BLAMING AND START DOING THE RIGHT THING!!! white people didn’t start the beef between 42 and parkside. Black boys did and all that you are doing is killing eachother instead of coming together to make Bermuda a better place!! JUST STOP ALREADY…It makes me so sick that my ancestors fought so hard to get an education..to vote..to work..and these kids are throwing all of that away becuase they are angry!!!

    • Uncle Ruckus says:

      STOP BEING STUPID AND STEREOTYPICAL! I HIGHLY DOUBT YOU ARE BLACK! I KNOW MORE GIRLS UNDER 30 WITHOUT KIDS THAN ONES WITH KIDS.

      • Concerned says:

        I am VERY black and the girls that do have kids are unmarried!!!! Its not stereotypical its the facts!!!

        • Peace and Love says:

          And for some being a single parent is by choice (worked for me!!) and by the way (@ concerned) you can also be a single parent by death and divorce not just by having kids out of wedlock..so getting married first before you have kids SOMETIMES does not make a difference..I know pleanty of children that have grown up in two parent households..and they became thieves, drug dealers, assaulting people.. oh and gun possesion..amongst these a Pastors child..so cut that single parent crap..one of my bigest pet peeves…I am a single parent and my sons are straight…gainfully employed and very respnsible I might add!!

          • concerned says:

            Anyone that will CHOOSE to have a baby with a thug is ignorant! I didn’t say that single women couldn’t raise respectable children. I was raised by a single mother because my father left her and I finshed law school!!. Did you have a baby by one of these thugs???!! READ WHAT I WROTE!!! I am talking about the amount of girls under 30 having kids with these gun wielding unemployed, uneducated fools!! Read before you respond!! And you cannot compare being a widow or divorcee to CHOOSING to be a single mother. What are you teaching your kids by choosing this way!! The bible says to marry or burn!! That’s why the country is upside down today because you all have taken God out of your lives.

          • Tired says:

            Agreed. It has much less if anything to do with single parenthood and much more to do with modeling behavior that you want them to exhibit themselves. It’s about valuing our children and loving them enough to discipline them.

        • Uncle Ruckus says:

          Yeah so? My mother wasn’t married when I was born but her and my father are now married and have been for over 20 years. People like you irritate me with that mentality like married is so big, likes it’s the early 1900s. Marriage is a piece of paper. Get off your high horse. Like I said I personally know of more girls without kids than with kids, ones under 30.

    • Allow me ... says:

      I figured it wouldn’t be long before someone made that accusation.
      (If in fact you were being serious )
      Let’s assume that ‘concerned ‘ is a true black Bermudian for real.

      You’re saying that he couldn’t be black because of what he said. Or to paraphrase maybe , black people don’t/can’t think like that because that’s what white people think like..

      Man , some of the respondants on this thread have proven beyond a doubt that we’ve got some truely f’d up heads out there.

      • Uncle Ruckus says:

        Hi you back under a different name? TRULY f’d up heads? I guess you would be one too if you think it’s that simple that “black boys” started it and that’s as far as it goes when it isn’t. So try again. And yes I do not believe that person is black. I said nothing of being BERMUDIAN which again leads me to believe you are ‘concerned’ and probably a white expat. Guilty conscience.

        • Logic76 says:

          So you’re saying that you can judge a person’s color by their literacy? Sounds like racism to me…

        • concerned says:

          So “Uncle Ruckus” you are so sure that I am white because of my post! A black person can’t write a post without cursing??? Those are my views!! Because I don’t bash white people..i’m not black?? Because I don’t feel the way you do..i’m not black?? You are the reason white people think we are illiterate!! I went to Somerset primary and Warwick Academy (When it was public)!! And you wonder why they call us ignorant!! UUGGGHH!!

          • Uncle Ruckus says:

            Whatever I don’t care. Denial is the first step. I’m the reason white people think ALL black people are illiterate? LMAO!! You are beyond stupid and don’t even deserve a response.

  17. progress says:

    I am a 23 year old male and come from both sides of the fence (black father, white mother). my complexion is white. Throughout my life i have seen racism in Bermuda directed at both Blacks and Whites. I have worked nightclub security in Hamilton been involved in the construction industry and i am a Sgt. in the Bermuda Regiment. I have experienced racism and witnessed racism, i don’t think there is any man or women in Bermuda who hasn’t. Bermuda has a HUGE drug problem with cocaine and ecstasy use on the rise Marijuana being the most popular. Government keeps trying all these experimental strategies to try and guide the youth on to a better path but have failed time and time again. why have they failed? These kids have no guidance! They will partake in criminal activity because they will suffer no consequences unless caught by the law. The level of discipline that the youth have nowadays diminishes every year i have seen this first hand with the amount of fights i have 2 break up at work in the club and the discipline issues within the Regiment from year to year. “WE” need to stop this behavior at a young age to prevent it from transitioning into a child’s later teens. Bermuda does not have a race problem “some Bermudians” have a race problem. There are race issues in every country in the world but it is rarely the main problem. I know people in 42 and Parkside ask them why they are fighting and none of them can give you a solid answer. it has nothing to do with race i can guarantee you that. The only people you can blame are the parents and or guardians of these youth it starts in the home you lay down the law give proper guidance and discipline when necessary. But guess what some parents cant do this because they themselves don’t have these qualities to pass on or just choose not to which is sad, and is no excuse if there child becomes a debt to society. Hold parents and or guardians responsible. don’t bring a child into this world if you cant handle the responsibility plain and simple. I say all this just to give my perspective You can read this and say he is only 23 and is to young to understand what the real problem is and that is fine with me again this is my opinion.

    • Uncle Ruckus says:

      You are still claiming to be biracial? LOL! Remember Bermuda is SMALL!

      • progress says:

        yes i am biracial and i would have never gave any information about myself if i was trying to be anonymous. lol unlike many im not scared to voice my opinion.

        • Uncle Ruckus says:

          Mmmkay. You say you have experienced racism when I recall you yourself being racist to someone. I was going to say something else but I’ll keep quiet, for now.

  18. Observer says:

    I should first declare my conflicts of interest. I am a white expat. I understand that I have no right to comment on the above, and my post does not specifically deal with Bermuda. I have lived for many years in Africa as the only white person for many miles around. I have lived in many countries of Europe. My children go to public school.
    I very much enjoyed reading the above article and the comments resulting from it. I think the vehemence of the threads following the article demonstrate some of the truth of the article. Women are the key to progress. It is through educating women that you educate a population.We talk constantly and with good reason about racism. It is alive and well without a doubt. However, rarely do we hear about the power of culture. I believe that our culture is what drives us and it is what ends up separating us because we are asking all people to be the same. Let’s start acknowledging that we aren’t the same and there are positive and negative aspects to all our cultures.It is only when we acknowledge the uncomfortable truth that we are different that we can start to work together. Many cultures define success by possessions, others by the number of people in your family, others by the age of the eldest surviving family member. Each has its merit and each its demerit. It is not trendy to comment on the power of culture, but it is a reality. I am unsure that it is helpful in any way to the above thread, but I felt it had to be commented on. You can’t fight against culture. It is usually passed on through women. You can raise your children within another culture, but the culture they adopt will be your own. It is sometimes hugely demoralizing!

  19. reason says:

    Back to the topic, what proof is there that any of these policies work? Finding a job one enjoys is a great way to secure economic empowerment and reduce the need to resort to crime to make a living but In order to get a job one must be suitably educated (work ethic stereotypes aside). I’m afraid that it isn’t easy to secure any job, let alone one you want, even with a bachelor’s degree and opportunities for a simple high school graduates are slim to none but centre around the police, customs, truck driving, and construction the rest are full of work permit holders. There is no reason it needs to be that way. Most employment ads locally seek employees that would be considered over-qualfied in other jurisdictions (check monster.com if you don’t believe me) with ads requiring qualifications that are difficult/impossible to obtain without working overseas, impossible to obtain without studying overseas, or have bizarre combinations of skills I assume for work permit renewal purposes (I recently saw an ad for an insurance position requiring GSM telephone experience). No doubt Bermudian & foreign companies know how to work around the permit system to hire foreign nationals. In other countries they would be training school leavers for most positions. The employment situation here is terrible especially with regard to choice of profession but that is to be expected of a place that is so small but as for “Bermudian work ethic” I would suspect that people who act like they don’t want to work don’t, they don’t like the position but have no other choice. Economic empowerment must come from a three pronged approach, providing full university education locally that is free or low cost is a good incentive to finish high school, the second prong must be to increase Bermuda’s desirability for foreign investment and provide a good anti-monoplositic business climate for local companies, and third to better evaluate requests for work permits by sourcing job descriptions from other jurisdictions. Just my opinion.

    • Sange says:

      @ reason

      That is exactly right. HR staff are the biggest hurdles for us Bermudians. I also can’t stress enough that I have witnessed companies holding fake job interviews. An ad was in the paper, 5 people were interviewed for ALREADY filled positions. The company went through the motions without any intention of actually hiring those in individuals. The people that were hired, were not interviewed, at least not by the department that hired them.

      • CanadianLuv says:

        I am in HR, but I practice in Toronto.
        We have laws here to protect every applicant we interview and have to document ever reason as to WHY we did not proceed with each candidate we meet with. Does Bermuda have that?

        • D says:

          Something similiar happened at the company that I work at. I don’t think we have any enforcable laws in Bermuda regarding HR. I work for one of Bermuda’s larger employers and then do not retain all applicant files, nor give applicants and explanation for why they were not hired.

          There is no official minimum wage in the Private Sector (ask a kitchen porter), and there is no need to pay people the same wage for the same job.

          One of my co-workers was recently promoted and was being trained by another member of staff holding the same position. They discovered that the recently promoted employee was paid significantly more than the employee training them. When they approached their manager, the manager reprimanded them both for discussing their salaries. I was not privy to how this was justified.

          I was recently reprimanded for ‘leaving early’ when I left only half an hour longer than I’m paid for one evening. Repremanded for not working unpaid overtime.

          • CanadianLuv says:

            This is rather shocking since every Developed country has Employment/Human Rights Laws to protect the working class – Both Private and Public. Minimum wage is mandatory especially in Bermuda with the cost of living so High!
            There are Pay Equity laws that ensure the same wage for the same job regardless of race or sex.” Equal Pay for Equal Work” Companies can receive large fines 50k+

            Reprimanded for unpaid overtime… that just sounds crazy!
            Maybe Human Rights & Employment Laws will assist the Crime rates .. Just a thought.

    • Tired says:

      First, I’m very sad for us Bermudians if you think you don’t have a right to comment. I understand why, but it still bothers me enormously that we have essentially done away with freedom of speech because of nationality and indeed because of colour.

      I will disagree with a bit of what you wrote, as a Bermudian, in that free education is often undervalued education, and taken for granted. My ex-husband was a child of privilege, and grew up with everything handed to him, he had to actually work for nothing. What’s he done with his expensive Master’s Degree? Nothing. That’s one of the reasons we got divorced. He was Bermudian, white and wealthy, and he came back here as a card-carrying member of the Lucky Sperm Club, and proceeded to do NOTHING with the education his parents handed to him. I don’t think everyone needs to work two jobs while attending college full time as I did to be able to get an education, but it’s human nature to value things less if they aren’t working for it at least in part. He never appreciated his education enough to value it and focus it to something useful, instead he got a total bull$hit degree and never used it.

  20. Jason says:

    I would like to thank the public for the many comments directed toward my opinion. I didnt realize I would have sparked a debate on different levels around my my comment.

    Sorry Kristen! I was in a lil mood when I wrote it and got caught up in the moment. To be honest, I read half the article then said screw this, take my opinion NOW, lol..No hard feelings (i hope) but the level that I approached your article with is what needs to be talked about !!!..I think if Politicians took the time to understand WHY it really has come to this point, then we as people can come up with solutions and move forward.

    But until then, until these monopolies break down and be more the Bermudians, then the crime will decrease.

    • Kristin says:

      Hi Jason,

      I understand your anger and frustration. I won’t lie – your comments and some of the others below did bother me. Because I have pretty much spent the last 10 years dedicated to Bermuda’s young people and so it hurts to see my motives questioned. Yes I’m in politics – gotta get tough now! But still… I only am in politics because after 10 years of seeing things get worse, I felt like I had to do more.

      In any case, I agree with you that what is happening with our men (and women!) is but a symptom of the core issues, one of which is definitely institutionalised racism. I think/hope that more and more people of both races are beginning to see that this is the case. Have had two long ‘conversations’ in the last few days on FB (one on my page and one on The Hon. Premiers) about racism, and it was interesting/exciting to see so many people weighing in openly on the topic.

      The BDA has been discussing it within our caucus as well – we have a group that has been researching and are now reading a few more studies recommended to us by CURB. We are not going to do nothing in hopes that the topic ‘goes away’.

      I think, however, understanding the why, is just part of it. We also have to in the meantime work with the cards that have been dealt. Many argue that the education system, judicial system, youth services etc are flawed because they were built within a framework that is inherently racist. However, I believe we can also fix some of these flaws while we work to better understand/address racism.

  21. CanadianLuv says:

    Reading this article and then reading the comments … it breaks my heart to see such a beautiful country so divided. The British did this to India -Divide and conquer, and we see history repeating its self.
    So here is my two cents..
    Bermuda has a huge race issue (very prominent in this article “Black males & Black females”) Instead of saying Bermudian men and Bermudian Women. A very racially segregated country which then impacts the social segregation and thus the never ending evil circle of Karma.
    Dividing Bermuda into Black and White is ruining Bermuda from the inside out!
    Here are some things that stood out for me…
    “I will not have sex with a man in a gang.” -> WHAT!?? This sounds like person who is out of touch with reality. Women that are into this lifestyle seek out men like this and take pride in being “boss lady”. Most of these women probably do not or did not have a strong male figure/role model (Father) to guide them and tell them their worth and teach them what to look for in a life partner.
    “I will not lie to protect my son from the police” – every mother will protect their offspring it’s in our genome – from primates to us now evolved humans.

    “Imagine if every ‘baby-mama’ said, I will not raise my son in a way that encourages a gang lifestyle. I will not dress him like a mini gangster when he is a baby, and when he is old enough to dress himself, I will make sure his pants are up.”
    And right here is the issue, we do not have an issue with the fact that Bermudian society is FINE with having “Baby-mama’s” But there is a problem with how the little ones are dressed??? The issue is staring us in the FACE and we are unable to see it!

    It comes down to FAMILY and ROLE MODELS. Young males/females not having a FATHER to look up to, to protect them and teach them how to be a good man/women, citizen and husband/wife . To Guide them in their career choices; sadly Gangs are like a family and children without a family/ guidance feel safe and protected in such environment. It’s like their family and they will do anything to protect their family- shoot and kill anyone that is a treat to their family.

    I know I just stated issue, and not solutions but working together ; that’s a start! So I say Bermuda stand together! Be ONE! Protect and guide the youth and we will be JUST fine!

    • Kristin says:

      Again thanks for your feedback.

      I don’t feel I’m out of touch with reality – but I guess I could see how you might think so. I had a baby at 16 with a guy who wasn’t involved in anything positive then and still isn’t. Several of my friends have children for/are dating/have dated guys who sell or sold drugs, one of my very close friends boyfriends was recently shot and murdered. Plus I work with at risk youth… many young girls think it’s wicked they go out with guys who are in gangs. I know that they are attracted to the power. But as the article mentioned, they also see a side of these guys that we the public don’t see… the vulnerable side.

      That’s why the article was about ‘empowerment’. If we empower women to feel strong within themselves, whether they have a strong male role model or not, then they will not need to seek that attention from men, and accept behaviours from men that put them and their children in danger. This is not just a theory… please review the organisations I suggested, especially http://www.girlsforachange.org.

      Who said society was okay with ‘baby mamas’? I guess maybe you think people are more accepting/tolerant? Okay perhaps… But in any event, how you dress a child, how you raise a child has A LOT to do with who they become. I really feel you may have missed the point there…. Have you seen pictures of babies wearing chains that say ’42′ or whose dad is holding up his son’s fingers in a gang sign? I have. Do you think that child is more likely to grow up and join a gang? I do. Do you think the child’s mother can take steps to try and prevent that from happening? Yes or no? THAT’S WHAT THE ARTICLE IS ABOUT.

      Of course it comes down to role models, I couldn’t agree more – but that’s what the whole article is about. About how we as women could be taking the lead as role models for our families and our community, even if some of our men are not.

      And of course the article spoke to Black men and Black women… as you see from the comments, that is who is being mostly affected by gang violence. I am not saying that white people haven’t been affected – everyone in Bermuda has been. But the statistics that I quoted, the research I was referring to did speak only about Black men. If it spoke about men/women in general (as did the literacy study) then I only said men/women and did not specify race.

      It wasn’t meant to be an article mainly about race, but rather about gender, and how women are a key to solving some of the issues that are plaguing Bermuda generally and the black community specifically. A solution. NOT the only solution. There are many many others – we have to have a better flow of services for at risk youth. We have to have a stronger financial aid programme. We need to address some of the gaps in services for families in need, including food banks and community counselling. The list goes on an on.

      But the ‘imagine’ statements were designed for you to just imagine it – not say oh it’s not possible because of this, or oh, this is why this is done…. but just imagine what could be if we as women stood together and said, NO MORE!

      This is just a step. And honestly, every developing country has looked at women as the greatest untapped resource for change. And Bermuda, a highly developed country, hasn’t. And the comments here have really made me see why.

      • CanadianLuv says:

        Thank you for your Quick response.
        First off I would like to commend you on your efforts and commitment to change. We need social workers to assist in this process. I am not a fan of politics so I am not sure how it would tie into your political agenda/ platform. I think all politicians are trying to help them selves to the piece of the pie. So if your different and “for the people” then that’s great!
        I guess we see a thing a little differently that’s all and this is the amazing thing about freedom of speech! :)
        My focus is on upholding family and social responsibility together (in par). Holding our men and women responsible (equally) -> we cannot do it alone.
        I love the efforts in developing and empowering young women and giving them the opportunities to break thru the glass ceiling etc. * two thumbs up* especially being a young women of colour; however my attention goes deeper and focuses more into the family life and the very important foundations as well as upbringing of young Bermudians and how it effects our Current (Shootings/ Theft) and Future (International Business’ pulling out of Bermuda due to unsafe conditions etc.) society = Economic crisis’ . We need our men to help in this process as well.

        I see RACISM as well as SEXISM as a huge issue in Bermuda and that is what is stopping this beautiful island from progressing.
        Imagine .. if everyone was colour blind and genderless , we would work together, help each other , forgive and forget the past and look towards the future!
        You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one …
        Thanks for listening!

    • Uncle Ruckus says:

      Maybe because Bermuda IS divided. It’s a reality. Easier said than done. And are you really saying the way they dress has something to do with it? It’s black culture, that’s how MANY people dress-it doesn’t mean you are a gangster or will be one. How does a mini gangster dress anyway? Be one? It’s hard when white people don’t want it that way and believe it or not have a direct impact on why we have the issues we have today. But that’s the problem. They say it’s the “past” when the past affect the future! Ask any black person over 50 in Bermuda or the United States or wherever. Again easier said than done.

      • CanadianLuv says:

        In regards to clothing it is not Black culture its Hip Hop culture, that emerged from underground USA, So if anything its American Culture.

        In regards to slavery: Indians, Chinese and almost ever other race of people that are NOT of Caucasian decent were enslaved by the British, Dutch and French. They seem to be doing just fine in this day and age. Only due to the face they forgive but not forgot. They take pride in their history .If our generation does not forgive our future generations will be divided and so on and so forth. Never ending circle of hate, stop blaming Caucasian’s for our problems and look within us to see what the real issue at hand is.

        • D says:

          Good point. There were white British slaves as well.

          FTR, I feel that black woman, in Bermuda, hold me back more than any other group. When I lived in Canada, I don’t feel that race factored in at all.

          • CanadianLuv says:

            I know we have gone off topic lol but i agree ->Black women do hold me back as well ( passing judgment, stating that I am “taking” Bermudain men away etc.)
            I try not to react but its hard * grind my teeth* Canada , especially Toronto has a lot of interracial couples and racism is not as blatant as in Bermuda , but different races living together in harmony. Its amazing I *heart* Toronto! And that’s y We live here lol.

  22. TillDeathDoUsPart says:

    Is this the girl that married Duane Dill earlier this year?

  23. BetterTogetherBermuda says:

    instead of arguing amongst ourselves and questioning who is to blame UBP vs. PLP why don’t we answer the question at hand and ask ourselves what we are going to do about the current situations at hand. It is so easy to sit back and point fingers at everyone but not actually stand up for ourselves and our glorious nation and CHANGE.

    I agree with the original author saying that we need to treat everyone as equals. We need to do this across the board whether you are black, white, mixed, asian, bermudian or expat as long as we are all living on this island let’s put aside our differences for once, stop pointing fingers at each other and work together.

    We should all understand that getting drugs and being in a gang is as easy for a public school kid as is a private school kid. The same goes for getting, selling and using drugs. So really we all have equal opportunity so let’s stop the endless bickering.

    We need to put some free workshops in place need it be a class in school or a required club to do between certain ages for both boys and girls which will teach them things that we have lost in current years and generations such as: chivalry and having to do group projects which in the long run helps the community, doing self empowerment and excercises that makes todays youth feel good and happy with themselves without needing anyone else. This will also get everyone off the street and doing something productive. And will help youth make friends with people from all walks of life. Furthermore it will give everyone a sense of family and unity again that we have lost.

    As you can see i am pointing fingers at no-one i just want our country to be the best it can be because that is exactly what everyone who lives here deserves

  24. LOL says:

    @ BetterTogetherBermuda

    Agreed, wish the politicians would see things this way. Issues that need a consensus across the country might be more welcomed. I am a Bermudian born and have lived here for 30 years and the hate that is now part of the Bermuda existence is shameful to our once island paradise. Don’t get me wrong I know everyone has their issues but compared to the rest of the world we as a small island could have are cake and eat it to if we cold come together and share the prosperity. Just my opinion and I mean it in the most positive way.

    LOL

    • BetterTogetherBermuda says:

      i completely agree with you to i love our country and i just do not understand how we just cannot get our country to it’s full potential