by Adrian Gibson

Since the PLP’s racially charged rally a while ago, race and politics has been the dominant topic on the airwaves and in the newspapers…….and I dare not forget, the blogosphere!

As Bahamians, it is high time that we examine ourselves and really question: Am I a racist? Does someone’s skin tone determine my outlook on them and not their character?

Personally speaking, I could care less about someone’s skin tone……people are people. And who am I to disown an aspect of my own background when my great-grand father was a white man from Tennessee.

There needs to be an open forum where all Bahamians of all racial and ethnic backgrounds can meet and truly vent with regard to the race issue that we still seem to face in the 21st century–albeit to a lesser extent.

It is time that politicians, social activists, columnists and anyone of influence in society seek to promote racial harmony and ONE BAHAMAS.

In South Africa, there was a Truth and Reconciliation Commission established at the end of apartheid. Such a commission promoted national unity, bore witness to and attempted to restore the dignity of victims of racial hatred and human rights abuses and also heard the arguments of the perpetrators of hate crimes and in many instances granted them amnesty. Internationally, this commission was considered to be a success.

Following minority rule, we unfortunately never had such a commission and the establishment of one is long overdue. As Bahamians, instead of carrying around fear of a return of the UBP or a return to minority rule or a hatred of white folk, lets all join hands and converse.