RACISM

 RACISM IS AN INCONGRUOUS MISREPRESENTATION OF REALITY. 


I grew up in Corriverton with great childhood friends! My village, Springlands, was almost evenly mixed, ethnically, between the two major ethnic groups, with a sprinkling of Portuguese and Chinese. As children, in Kindergarten, primary and secondary schools, we never knew that we were different, apart from having varying shades of color and hair types. We loved, got married, frolicked, got infatuated, and developed strong bonds with each other. Our parents and grown ups did the same. They never thought of, or showed any inclination of racial animosity and hatred. It was a great time! We were all brothers, sisters, and neighbors. We were one big family and we took care of, and looked out for each other. In the 50's, when I became a teenager, life was good and full of promises. As children, we were buddies in school, visited each other homes, and even slept over, with our parent's consent. I remember, in the early 60's, when there were problems in the Capital, I was hanging out with friends at a neighbor's house, and we were baffled by the use of the word 'racism' which came over the radio.


Most of us, man and woman, who grew up in the 50's and early 60's were not affected by this word which has now become a household word for hatred, violence, wars, discrimination, power and tribalism. We are still friends and maintain a bond which can never be broken by  this meaningless word. We still, love, respect and care for people who are now classified as being racially different.


I memorialize the profound response by a neighbor of mine, in the 60's. The community was threatened and attacked by forces of racial animosity. My neighbor and his son, black Guyanese, picked up slabs of wood available to them, and chased out those anomalies of human existence!  I remember my mom who was locked up in her room, appealing to me to come indoors and seclude myself.  I didn't do it, but instead, went over to my neighbors and we hugged and emotionally recommitted ourselves to a life of existence full of one love and a bond of brotherhood.

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