Christian,
As you know, colour is subjective within the Bahamas. Our colour spectrum is vast and intricate. Only in this Bahamas, one can be considered blue-black, black, brown, khaki-coloured, yellow, red, black-conchie joe, conchie joe and even white. Ironically enough, all these decriptions hint toward where and how one has originated. It lends to one’s history, to one’s lienage.
I personally believe that it is because of this fact, because of this mix up in colour,this concern about race, that there exists no current statistics in regards to colour and race within the Bahamas: only guesstimates. There exists no national questionaire asking race; we leave that to the subject to interpret, in order to protect the innocent and the blind.
You ask how can the title ‘white Bahamian’ be a paradox? Well, I answer you with this merry-go-round response: colour is subjective within this Bahamas. What one person say is white, another may respond mix, and yet another would say as black as black can be. It is all left to personal interpretation.
Also, (smiling)regarding my comment concerning ‘the white palm of my black hand,’ I must remind you that inspite there being a white side, it still is a black hand.
CN
said…
- Cecil,
that’s at least part of the problem. how can “white” Bahamian be a paradox? Is it that Bahamian only implies “black”? why is it that most Bahamians imagine the ‘quintessential’ Bahamian, the folk image, as black, and the quintessential image of control, power, wealth as white? why do we consistently undermine our largeness and complexity as a people?remember that your one hand is, as you say, white on side and black on the other.
- said…
- Bahamian white:truly a paradox. Its like the white palm of my black hand.
(c) www.gapseed.blogspot.com
