Enough is Enough!

Sep 22, 2023 Letters

Dear Editor,

It is easy to play the blame game when discussing the racial issues that exist in our land.  However, we are either part of the problem or part of the solution. When you try to bring two worlds together, it is the individuals that count. We cannot change the past, but we can change the future.  A childhood friend said to me a couple days ago that racism will continue in our beloved land until everyone sees themselves as Guyanese and not through the lens of race.  It is no secret that the primary two races in Guyana, East Indian descent and African descent, have been involved in racial discrimination for the last several decades.

As a child growing up in Guyana, I didn’t know about racism. I did not choose my friends because of race, but because of a connection I had with them.  On any given day, playing cricket with my friends in my yard, both Indians and Blacks were represented.  It wasn’t until I got older in my teens that I became aware of the racial divide in our society. I grew up in a home where I saw both races having a meal at my parents’ table. My Dad told us an incident that happened to him during the racial riots before I was born.

He had to go through a Black area to get to his home after work.  This was in Georgetown.  His co-worker and good friend, Trevor who was Black offered to ride with him to ensure his safety.  As they were going through this particular area, there was a group on the street with the intention to harm anyone who did not look like them.  This group blocked the road when they saw my Dad approaching on his bicycle.  Trevor who was Black jumped off his bicycle, got between my Dad and the group, and said to them, “You will have to go through me to get to him”.  The group backed off.

That Saturday afternoon, a Black person saved the life of an Indian person.  Or should I say, “A Guyanese saved the life of a fellow Guyanese and friend”.  Trevor became “Uncle Trevor” to me growing up in Guyana.  Many years later, I met his daughter and her husband in the US, and the bond between my Dad and her Dad was evident between us.  We were continuing the legacy.  Racism is taught. It is not a learned behaviour.  We have to become childlike, not childish, in our love and acceptance of everyone.  Let’s refuse to be used as a puppet on a string to further someone’s agenda.  Every Guyanese needs to stand up and say, “Enough is enough!”  Ignoring it doesn’t make it go away as seen.

Sincerely,

Daniel Singh

• African descent, Daniel Singh, East Indian descent, Guyana, problem