by Rick Lowe
Racism is not nice. Having experienced it myself, it is horrible to read of it happening to anyone – black or white – at this stage of the development of The Bahamas.
In this story in The Bahama Journal, Mr. Donaldson, Chairman of Commonwealth Bank, suggests that he was a victim of racism at the Lyford Cay Club, an exclusive resort where Mr. Donaldson is a member.
The gist of the story is that Mr. Donaldson’s guest was not wearing a shirt with a collar as required by a recent rule change. He claimed ignorance to the rule change and refused to get a shirt or leave.
However, upon being informed of the rule change I would have thought that Mr. Donaldson would have offered to buy a shirt for his guest?
Since publication of the Journal article, a friend who is a member at the Lyford Cay Club, advised me that he has not been allowed to enter two functions until he got a coat.
He was white. So what do we call that?
The rules are the rules and far too often we wish to forget them for expedience. And the implication here is that Lyford Cay should forget the rules because Mr. Donaldson is black. Of course that is rubbish.
I wonder what Commonwealth Bank does when one of their staff does not wear the proper uniform to work?
The situation must have been embarrassing for Mr. Donaldson, but racism? I think a mountain is being made of a mole hill.
What do you think?
“…the staff did not want to see another black Bahamian embarrassed.” [Too bad Donaldson proceeded to embarrass himself!]
Rick
This is a very instructive story and I commend you for writing about it.
As a black man, I empathise with the frustration, indeed embarrassment, Mr Donaldson must have experienced. But I find his cry of racism based on the facts presented not only inappropriate but also ironic:
Inappropriate – because racism is being denied access to the Lyford Cay Club because you are black, or being treated with less dignity and respect than white members once inside. But racism is not being required to abide by the rules, no matter how uninformed or ignorant you are about them. Of course, if Donaldson saw whites wearing shirts with no collars being served, then he would have a legitimate grievance.
Ironic – because many black Bahamians still consider the Lyford Cay Club a racist lily-white establishment….
I suspect foolish pride just got the better of Mr Donaldson. After all, I if he were not trying to impress his Yale and Howard buddies, he probably would have reacted more sensibly.
Indeed, a simple: “Forgive me, I was unaware of the new rule. We’ll go and get a collared (polo) shirt and continue lunch” would have demonstrated the prudence and equanimity one would expect from our Commonwealth Bank Chairman. Instead, he seems poised to compound his embarrassment by making his petty slight a national spectacle (a letter to the immigration department indeed).
Let it go Mr Donaldson. And remember to wear the proper attire the next time you want to impress your American friends by hobnobbing with rich white people out in Lyford Cay….
No racism here … mere rules being enforced. Frankly, who over the age of 15 wears a shirt in our former British colony without a collar in social situations other than the beach, anyway?