Opinion: Chris Famous On “Real Bermudians”
[Opinion column written by Chris Famous]
“Real Bermudians are black. They live in black neighbourhoods, their children go to public school, their partners are other real Bermudians, they don’t go away to school or university, they belong to the union, and they support the Progressive Labour Party.” – Ex-OBA Senator Toni Daniels April 26, 2014
It is clear that the OBA, via ex-OBA Senator Toni Daniels’ race-based, anti-Bermudian rants, chooses to look down upon Bermudians who fall into the following categories:
- Black
- Married to other Bermudians
- Live in black neighbourhoods
- Have not been to university
- Send their children to public school
- Members of one of these unions:-
- BPSU
- BIU
- BUT
- POS
- POA
- ESTU
Perhaps Ms. Daniels forgets that the OBA’s entire election campaign was based on attracting Black votes. Let’s reflect:-
- OBA election flyers had only black faces on them
- OBA promised social and economic equality
- Craig Cannonier’s first speech in 2011 spoke of racial inequalities
The OBA has truly run out of steam, when their only option left is to degrade the majority of Bermudians, by labelling those that do not support them, as uneducated and non-critical thinkers.
After her race-based, anti-Bermudian rant, Toni Daniels then coyly asks, “Will we ever be able to move forward together?”
Seriously?
She sounds similar to the owner of LA Clippers, Donald Sterling.
“When ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance, you don’t really have to do anything, you just let them talk,” - President Barack Obama
First at the Table
The priority of the OBA is first and foremost to appease certain non-Bermudian while leaving Bermudians as an afterthought.
This is evident from the following OBA actions:-
- Removal of Term Limits, without protecting certain occupations for Bermudians
- Attempted to give the children of guest workers the right to employment without the need of a work permit
- Committed to granting status to the children of guest workers.
- Granted $20 million in hotel tax concessions, without directly linking it to a significant number Bermudian employment
- Refused to reveal the Bermuda Tourism Authority CEO’s salary despite being funded by taxpayers
- Potentially introducing commercial immigration and the concept of selling our land and right to vote
- Amended the Companies Act to allow foreign companies to own residential property while failing to grow Bermudian home ownership
- Amended the Job Makers Incentive Act, making it easier for company’s executives to qualify for PRC status by reducing the minimum Bermudian employee requirement from 25 to 10
- Suggested the relaxing the 60/40 rule
As a prime example, the Clarien Bank recently rescinded its’ staff mortgage benefit. OBA’s MP Bob Richards opted to come to the defence of the bank, who wish to increase profits, instead of the Bermudian employees, who simply wish to keep their family homes.
Based on OBA’s actions over the last 16 months, let all of the people of Bermuda judge who the OBA truly supports.
“And If I have to make it easier for rich white people to own land in Bermuda that is fine!” — MP Bob Richards HoA, March 1, 2013.
-Chris Famous
Last time I checked (December 2012) the OBA’s campaign materials had its candidates on them – who represent a broad cross-section of Bermuda.
It’s also worth noting that HSBC reduced its mortgage benefit during the PLP’s term – so perhaps we can blame the PLP for that one?
Also, let’s be real here – whoever wrote this didn’t even read Toni Daniels’ opinion piece.
“Attempted to give the children of guest workers the right to employment without the need of a work permit….
…Committed to granting status to the children of guest workers.”
Please have concern for others, rather than your own perspective here. I moved to Bermuda with my ‘guest worker’ parents at the age of 1 years old. When I turned 18, I was told to leave the only country I know, not allowed to live or work in Bermuda they said. (Oh, and my parents did have to re-apply each year after the 6 year limit to stay another year. Apparently no Bermudians could replace them – and I don’t mean that in a condescending way.)
However, when I went 18, I was still kicked out – even after countless lawyer fees. Now I am in the states, and living a good life. I miss Bermuda though. And it is a shame that the few ‘children of guest workers’ who only know Bermuda, are now forced to leave the only country they know.
So next time, just think about others. Because now I am forced to live abroad. Some may say it is my parents’ fault. That’s fine, but does it still make it right to tell an 18 year old to pack up and leave after their entire life here?
Onion – this isn’t geared to you. Just an opinion in general.
NO, she was recalling comments from PLP and PLP supporters identifying this. Chris you failed to comprehend, ah well, only to be expected for Chris the hate monger.
I don’t think he failed to comprehend the piece at all. He deliberately chose to quote portions of it out of context in order to keep the racial/political pot boiling.
His literary masterpieces provide much comedic relief to many of those in the Caribbean who read them in their newspapers.
What a pathetic excuse for a so called “intelligent” man.
Still can’t understand why this person gets so much media time. picks and chooses the best and worst parts of a story then throws out the rest.
I know right, who is this joker? Whoever he is, he’s not the sharpest tack in the box…and that becomes more and more evident every time he opens his mouth. Ya think he’d learn! Oh well, entertainment.
Toni Daniels should have just kept her opinion to herself.
Maybe Famousss should keep his opinion to himself.
From the article it’s clear that he did not understand what he read. Perhaps some basic comprehension lessons would be useful for him.
someone didn’t pay attention in public school.
“When ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance, you don’t really have to do anything, you just let them talk,” – President Barack Obama
Toni was bad…..Chris is worse ;-( with bone-headed extremist that can’t seem to contain their verbal diarrhea on both sides, no wonder I can’t endorse either party. One thing about the 40 thieves, they only talked dirty amongst themselves. We only heard ‘rumors’ from their estate home employees.
You just took a small piece of her text and are now using it out of context. such a dummy
Unearthed- your sentiments are rubbish. Toni is well spoken, articulate and entitled to her opinion; it’s a shame that people lack the general skill of reading comprehension. Get that woman a drink!
Toni may be articulate at the best of times but her article made my blood boil. It was so condescending and insulting. It’s like she feels because she is biracial (black/white) that it gives her the right to express negative views by saying that she knows what she’s talking about because she lives in both worlds.
People really let her have it. She ended up looking really foolish. All the negative comments were taken down (everyone had already seen them) which shows the kind of Bermuda we now in. That publication really disgusts me, and so does she.
Can someone clarify as to how Ms. Daniels looked down on the Bermudians as the above author has insinuated?
She simply stated the popular narrative being promoted via the airwaves, blogs and generally in public amongst the most vociferous of PLP representatives/supporters, that only certain people can truly be recognized as being ‘real Bermudians as per their own formulated definitions. Her conclusion was that it is wrong to categorize and stereotype the residents of this island. Anyone that disagrees with that is simply mad that their disgusting and divisive tactics have been called out or are just intolerant and hateful beings. I hear it every day via all forms of media on this island. To deny this is happening is just wrong and proves that you are part of Bermuda’s problem.
So instead of getting mad that someone has called the PLP and some of their supporters out on this divisive narrative of which they encourage daily, why don’t you instead rail against the individuals who promote such hate speech?
PS: I have been subject to the go back to where you came from line several times. I don’t mind it as I don’t have to go far as I am from Southampton and am proudly Bermudian.
TCF – it’s not at all uncommon or unheard of for white Bermudians to be told to ‘go back where you come from’ by strangers purely on the basis of skin colour, and despite never having any home besides Bermuda.
That’s an experience I suspect you have not shared, and it might be at least one reason that Toni Daniels’ piece did not resonate with you as much as it did with others.
Yep. I know that’s happened because I’ve witnessed it happening to people myself. I even heard someone get called a white b&*** when a lady was parking her bike. Sad, really as I know that there are equally digusting comments being thrown the other way too
not as much as you might think
Oh PUH-LEEZE. What white Bermudian says that happened to them and how often? Give me a break!
So you didn’t see the person at the Town Hall meeting who suggested Fahy wasn’t a proper Bermudian then?
I’m a 50 year old white Bermudian and happened to me. At the airport when I politely asked a black gentleman to move his PARKED car out of the drop off area. I received the racial slur, “go back where you came from”. When I recovered from the shock, I replied, “Look bird, I’m Bermudian!”, then I got the finger. This is the ignorance that President Obama referred to only the other day regarding racism. Since relaying this story to my friends, 5 other white people have told me they received the same treatment at sometime in their lives. My guess is it happens more than we all think.
This happens all the time usually when people are drunk but people say what they really feel then huh
You’re kidding, right Prospero? I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you’re intelligent enough to see that the amount of ‘dislikes’ your comment has received has answered your question.
I used to work for a food and bevy wholesaler, and while on a delivery was in a discussion with my boss, and the owner of a local grocery store. The owner had asked if I was Bermudian to which I replied born and raised. Another worker of another food and bevy wholesaler who overheard this (but was not in our conversation) started shouting, “You ain’t no f##### Bermudian!” over and over. I could have (easily) gotten really nasty with her, but took the higher road.
Truth be told though. I’m not sleeping with my cousin. I have no baby-mamas. And I wear a wedding ring. Guess that seriously lowers my cred as a “Real Bermudian”. Proud to say I’m Bermudian. Even prouder to say I’m NOT a “Real Bermudian”!
Let it all out david…your colors are bleeding through.
As do the racists on here every day just look above my comment here
LOL
Are you serious?
I have had the ignorant comment thrown at me several times throughout my life on this Rock. But growing up here you eventually learn how to brush it off and ignore the ignorance. Just because you haven’t experienced it, does not meet it does not exist.
And I can honestly say that dopey comment was the most mild form of racial hatred that I have been subject to in my own island. I have experienced far worse racial hatred growing up here, but won’t bore you with details
Racism and hatred is not a monopoly held by any one sector of the population. But it is wrong and destructive no matter who the culprit and it must be confronted at every opportunity. So Ms. Daniels was correct to highlight this divisive and destructive mindset that is so vehmently promoted by some.
STFU come say it to me
Exactly! Didn’t we ALL emmigrate here FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE??? Didn’t we all come on the same boats together??
Some didn’t have a choice…and some worked HARD for free…
Your a fu282 joke more had a choice then you think infact we just honored some of the boat who where freed and paid as slavery was abolished so stfu….
LOL
Why is no one allowed to have an opinion? Toni Daniels was spot on in my opinion and articulated what she sees. Marc Daniels gave an intellectual and informed rebuttal. That is what intelligent people do. It is their opinion and we should respect it whether or not we agree or disagree. These responses, including yours Mr Famous, is political to say the least but your opinion none the less and once again I respect it. These attacks on people’s opinion needs to stop. Just because it is not your opinion per se, does not mean it is wrong, and should never be annihilated the way it is in these comment columns.
I don’t know why people are saying TCF took it out of context… I just read it, and it sounds exactly as it was put on here… If it was supposed to be read within a certain context, it should have been specified KNOWING that it is a touchy subject. She said it… not TCF.
Because he, like you, didn’t read the whole thing, obviously.
Wrong.
She did not say:
“Real Bermudians are black. They live in black neighbourhoods, their children go to public school, their partners are other real Bermudians, they don’t go away to school or university, they belong to the union, and they support the Progressive Labour Party.”
What she said was there is a segment of our population that does believe all that, as ridiculous as it all sounds.
So yes, TCF took that quote entirely out of context.
Furthermore – for anyone to claim that NOBODY has those beliefs, that NOBODY looks at white or ‘paper’ Bermudians and feel that they are somehow ‘less’ Bermudian is insane. That would be like people trying to claim that there are no white racists in Bermuda.
If you wanted to debate how prevalant that attitude is in Bermuda, and whether or not the PLP is partly or wholly responsible for propogating that attitude for their own political benefit, that’s a different story.
More PLP propaganda.
The man is just being used and he likes the attention.
Basically a nice family man and worker.
Told him so personally.
Shalom.
I will state it – I have been told to go back to “my country” countless times throughout my professional career. And in retrospect, the comment always preceded my switching up to an obvious bermy accent. But heck people, this isn’t a deal breaker is it? WE ARE ALL GUILTY. I know I am, and I’m 25 years into marriage to a black Bermudian. Class distinctions play a considerable part. The human race is a strange race.
Why do you have to switch up to an obvious Bermuda accent? In its present form is it not good enough for you? Do you prefer to have your accent sound like one from the UK or one from the US?
Seriously? The only point I wished to make was that once the person (or persons) rudely proclaiming “go to f@#K back where you came from” realize that I am a son of the soil, they are embarrassed and disengage the contact, sometimes even change course. Dinosaurmedia – are you a Bermudian? And either way, are you one to refute that comments such as I have mentioned don’t occur? Doesn’t matter either way. It is a fact – as sure as some white people have thrown racial epitaphs – so to do some black people throw them at whites. And I will state, I am a white Bermudian with British and Portuguese lineage, married to a black Bermudian. We have 2 children – one in his 20′s and the other in her teens. I consider myself well-rounded and sensible. I do not easily take offence when these remarks come – they are too infrequent to be anything but a passing frustration. And they originate from people who belong to a racial group who have endured significant and lasting provocation from people who “look like me”. As far as accents go – I openly confess that the thick bermy accent is NOT one of my favorites! My choice, my opinion. No harm sought – no quarter held. Peace and love !!!!
shut it bye
LOL
O’Brien is correct. As a white Bermudian, I have been told to go back where I came from on several occasions. I usually reply, “You mean Flatts?” I am well educated, and speak clearly and am as such – often treated like a foreigner in my own land.
Now I can turn it on and speak as Bermudian as anyone, but I choose to speak with a clear, professional sounding, mid Atlantic dialect.
How sad that people jump to conclusions, and that they would tell ANYONE to go back home. We need foreigners here to keep our economy going. Anyone who doesn’t realize this has been drinking to Kool-aid too long.
So the author is either:
1. Lying and representing the quote given as the actual view of Ms. Daniels – It clearly is not, it was given as the general view of certain PLP members.
or
2. Is so dim witted that he did not comprehend what he read, to do so would be a sign of staggering intellectual deficiency on his part…….
So Mr. Famous, are you a liar or a moron? unfortunately opinion pieces such as this one lead the reader to believe both statements are true.
an infamous piece of trash that should be flushed away with the rest of the garbage on this Island.
I hope it gets treated before pumped out to sea. Imagine how bad this grease ball would smell.
Agree!
Twisted, warped and convoluted as well as intellectually dishonest – we can all take the words of others, use them entirely out of context and meaning but that is neither right nor intelligent Mr. Famous. I think I forgot to mention disingenuous too.
Look up xenophobia in the dictionary and you will see Chris Famous an an example.
So Chris Famous takes part of Toni Daniels opinion piece and uses it against her, but fails to refer to this part of her piece:
Is it legitimate? Is there really a difference between real Bermudians and pretend Bermudians?
Of course not. It’s a notion that fails on every front — historically, legally, ethically, and in any other way you care to look at it. But it exists.
So another epic FAIL by the PLP propaganda machine.
Last time I checked my skin was not black I don’t live in an all black neighborhood, I am Bermudian I am married to a Bermudian and neither of us are part of any union. I voted for change big mistake the first time round so I voted for a new change but I know there is no way in less than 2 years anyone could fix the (vote for change) HUGE mistake we all made the first time!
Anyone care to comment on the content of the piece – who can debunk the below points…without rescinding into the PLP did it to nonsense…
And no I do not support any political party..how could one with their eyes open do so?
But there seems to be plenty of educated “Bermudians” on here so please…debunk these items if you will…because I think this list is accurate to within 99% and it reads like a playbook for inequality at the MINIMUM.
Removal of Term Limits, without protecting certain occupations for Bermudians
Attempted to give the children of guest workers the right to employment without the need of a work permit
Committed to granting status to the children of guest workers.
Granted $20 million in hotel tax concessions, without directly linking it to a significant number Bermudian employment
Refused to reveal the Bermuda Tourism Authority CEO’s salary despite being funded by taxpayers
Potentially introducing commercial immigration and the concept of selling our land and right to vote
Amended the Companies Act to allow foreign companies to own residential property while failing to grow Bermudian home ownership
Amended the Job Makers Incentive Act, making it easier for company’s executives to qualify for PRC status by reducing the minimum Bermudian employee requirement from 25 to 10
Suggested the relaxing the 60/40 rule
no one is reading your ca73 any more just you……
LOL
Hey..
.nofoooogaht!_Π_…it’s not all black and white…..sorry….but it’s not…..and honestly ….I am sick and tired of that same old ship…on…and on…and on….here we have good and bad,happy and sad,rich and poor,intelligant and stupid….and so many other descriptives that pertain to the individual…as a human being….these things are the pertinent things…each of us are human beings….everyone but the likes of ypu know this….why you don’t know this?I’m gonnah ask you like my wife asks me when I get her last nerve…here goes……(“WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU???!”)……(“THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU!”)…….(“TELL ME…WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?.
..DO YOU KNOW?….TELL ME WHAT OS WRONG WITH YOU!”).IF you was in a field by your self….talking ship…and there was nobody there to hear yah ship……would you be talking ship?
To be taken seriously as a viable choice you should consider thet it is who you are….not your colour……you lot were me me me….and were sooooo lofty……
Didn’t know how to maintain an infistructure…..there was basic need not meeted and mps taking advisor jobs on projects better left to people whodo it professionally…seriously…
Rev. Tweed….Marten Luther? Seriously? Ok he was a great man…but emulating?….Just be yourself….you’ll do just fine.
“Real Bermudians are black” – HUH???. So who found the island back in the early 1600′s and made it what it is today…There are plenty of Old *white families* who have descendants that have been on the Island – since the early days of settlement on behalf of Great Britain!!
Go to the library and get your *History Books* out… I’m sure you have much to learn!! Blacks were brought to BDA as slaves from Africa – after their black African masters sold them to the highest bidder – and they did the same *deal* with the Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Americans, South Africans etc!! Can you handle the “truth”??
Clearly you stopped reading after four words.
Jim Jones… I stopped reading after 4 words??? I don’t think so – as I quite clearly see what the “thrust” of his letter was all about!!
It’s quite obvious to me that you are having a lot of difficulty with…. Can you handle the “truth”?? It is what it is Senor!! I simply tell it like it is!! NO “sugar-coating”!!
And up to today the young black Mandingo is well sought after by the female from your loins . HAHAHA ! And they get what they came for and leave wide eyed and satisfied !
And that’s the truth … With just a sprinkle coat of raw sugar !
confirmed your dumb whats new mine satisfied all. Could do for you too but I think I would only make you choke…………
LOL