The mirror image of black

By Charles Holder
| Fri, August 31, 2012 - 12:00 AM

()

What mirror image do we have of ourselves? The question of the old sage Errol Walton Barrow.

As a nation we’ve achieved political independence, yet we still hold on to all the vestiges of our colonial master, his educational, judicial and political systems.We are yet to develop a national consciousness.

We black Barbadians have a healthy self-hate born out of our colonial past and the way the slave owners used to treat us.

Most of the times, the only ones we tend to mistreat are those who look like us. Most of us are ready to pull down, foul-mouth, gossip about, spread rumours and untruths about our kith and kin, especially if they have reaped some success. We find it hard to compliment each other on most occasions, and are reluctant to share in each other’s success.

Coupled with this is an inferiority complex that further fuels our dislike for self. The question is: can we love others when we don’t love ourselves?

We bend over backwards for others who don’t look like us, and who have an accent. No wonder con artists can come here and obtain favours – financial and otherwise – and then flee our country, leaving their debts behind. Many of us have memories of convenience. We have forgotten where we have come from; but we only have to look back 50 years and it is clear to see.

Materialism is the main motivator for most of us: all the cars and gadgets that many allow to define them. Materialism is the main reason for the depravity of most of us. Many of us would do anything to achieve material things.

Many sell their pride and dignity and soul to achieve material things, which only have utility in this physical plane. They have no transfer when we enter the spiritual world. This does not mean that we don’t need modern means of transport, kitchen gadgets, a home, adequate clothing. But why the excesses?

Materialism has tended to help divide black Barbadians. They base class on the possession of material things. Many poor and uneducated Blacks who are fed this constant acquisitive diet say to themselves that they must have the same; hence the illegal drugs and prostitution.

Finally, many black Barbadians dislike their Africanity. With a population of over 90 per cent Blacks, our origin has to be in Africa. Even many who call themselves white have African blood in their veins.

It was interesting to hear the airwaves being bombarded when a prominent black Barbadian referred to an expatriate as an Egyptian Jew.

That is his ethnicity, I would be glad to be deemed a Barbadian of African descent, but alas we are in denial.