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INTOLERANCE AND MISTRUST WITH RESPECT TO RACE.

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INTOLERANCE AND MISTRUST WITH RESPECT TO RACE.

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"Race is defined as “a category of humankind that shares certain distinctive physical traits ... Race is usually associated with biology and linked with physical characteristics such as skin color or hair texture." - Erin Blakemore.

To begin, the issue of race and the views held against it has always been prominent in society. Racism however isn’t only a modern-day issue, it was strongly prevalent throughout our history leading all the way back to slavery. The topic of intolerance can be demonstrated where the Africans were enslaved by the white man, ‘colonizer, and were treated poorly. They held no worth or value in the eyes of their masters and were abused and overworked to their deaths.

The African or ‘Negro’ race were viewed  as property that could be bought and sold with impunity, “chattel”. As property, they had no rights before the law and could be murdered or raped without any form of redress. Whereas, the British were viewed as superior and prestigious race with class and etiquette.

However, the issue of racism did not end in the 1800’s along with slavery, but instead it continued to grow and was used to discriminate against persons of the ‘slave race’ or Negroes in the modern-day society. Negroes or persons of African descent were viewed as uneducated and poor because of the stigma placed on them due to events of the past. In a classroom setting they would be viewed as slow or illiterate compared to their classmates of East Indian or European descent. In the same way with respect to the work environment individuals with kinky, curly or ‘nappy’ hair are always given restrictions or in extreme cases denied job opportunities when it comes to embracing their hair texture or roots. Their natural hair is regarded as unprofessional or untidy but if it were to be straightened, relaxed or ‘tamed’ their hair would not be an issue or considered as unfit for the workplace. Scenarios such as these shows just how much intolerance individuals in society are willing to hold against themes such as these. It shows how they allow racism and ethnicity to shape social power and success.

Levels of racism can also be seen outside of everyday occasions and professional settings. It is also prevalent in our political environment where there are constant discriminatory comments being thrown around by parties of East Indian and African descent.

“Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has been accused of attempting to destabilise the country by “consciously and intentionally utilising race to divide and destroy Trinidad and Tobago … Government is of the view that the comment was an attack on the Prime Minister which it says was done “in a despicable and nakedly racist manner” - “Gov't slams 'racist attack' by UNC leader after 'Oreo' comment”. Darlisa Ghouralal, September 2018.

This shows that there are no boundaries when individuals choose to express their intolerance towards other races within society.

However, the issue of racism is not as prominent as it once was and this is a result of interracial marriages (Negroes and Indians, etc), it can also be seen by the mingling of opposite races with one another. These persons of mixed races (dougla, etc) can be used as a symbol to demonstrate unity and equality among races.

On that note the issue of skin colour can also be linked to that of racism where levels of intolerance and mistrust are seen.

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"Gov't slams 'racist attack' by UNC leader after 'Oreo' comment". Looptt.com. http://www.looptt.com/content/govt-slams-racist-attack-unc-leader-after-oreo-comment.

"Sex and gender: Meanings, definition, identity, and expression". Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232363.php.

"The Origins of Colorism and How This Bias Persists in America". ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-colorism-2834952.

"Trinidad and Tobago judge rules homophobic laws unconstitutional". the Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/13/trinidad-and-tobago-sexual-offences-act-ruled-unconstitutional.

"Visible Identities: Race, Gender, and the Self - 2006, Page ix by Linda Martín Alcoff. | Online Research Library: Questia". Questia.com. https://www.questia.com/read/119369946/visible-identities-race-gender-and-the-self.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/topics/reference/race-ethnicity/.

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The following themes discussed above shows how our Caribbean society view intolerance and mistrust against them such as race, colourism and gender. However, changes can be seen throughout or society.

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In continuation,

“Gender can be defined as the fact of being male or female, especially when considered with reference to social and cultural differences, not differences in biology.”(Oxford Dictionary) “Sometimes, a person's genetically assigned sex does not line up with their gender identity. These individuals might refer to themselves as transgender, non-binary, or gender-nonconforming.”- Tim Newman, February 2018.

Society has found ways to twist the meaning of one’s gender and as a result have given birth to new stereotypes such as being gay or transgendered. However, this aspect of gender holds a very large amount of intolerance and mistrust towards persons who identify themselves with these themes. From a governmental point of view, we can see actions of decriminalization against homosexuality.

“Gay sex between consenting men in Trinidad and Tobago could soon be decriminalised following a court judgment that campaigners said might spark similar decisions elsewhere in the Caribbean.”- The Guardian, April 2018.

Even though the government may be supportive of these gender identities, citizens hold a level of intolerance and mistrust against the identified persons. They view them as a disgrace to society and as predators. The issue of homosexuality has always been around but today it has been embraced more and more. Persons are no longer afraid of the stereotype placed against them however, they are treated unequally with respect to the work environment and even in their everyday lives.

Based on stories that I have heard first hand from homosexual acquaintances, it shows the level of mistrust and intolerance that society holds towards them. They have been abused and violated from citizens who view them as ‘parasites’ to society. In a community where there should be love and equality they have been shunned from their rights and ridiculed. Work environments have denied them the right of accessing a job as these companies do not want to be associated with this ‘sickness.’

Lastly, it seems where this factor of gender is concerned we never know if our society will reach that level of unity and equality, as it as a new era that our Caribbean society is encountering. Individuals also stay true to their views on intolerance and mistrust towards this topic due to their history, culture and identity.

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INTOLERANCE AND MISTRUST WITH RESPECT TO SKIN COLOUR. "COLOURISM"

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INTOLERANCE AND MISTRUST WITH RESPECT TO SKIN COLOUR. "COLOURISM"

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The issue of racism goes hand in hand with that of colourism.

“Colourism disadvantages dark-skinned people while privileging those with lighter skin.”( Nadra Kareem Nittle, August 2019.)

Once again, our history with respect to slavery influences the theme of colourism in society today. Slaves of lighter skinned colours were treated less harshly as compared to slaves who obtained a darker skinned tone and were highly overworked and abused. This is due to the miscegenation that occurred between the slave masters and the slaves resulting in slaves who were mixed or attained a lighter skinned shade.

In modern day society, persons of fairer skinned tones are always susceptible to greater opportunities. This is because they are viewed as prestigious, wealthy and more attractive; they hold a sense of privilege and power in society.

Picture this, “Who do you think would’ve had a greater chance of acquiring a job position for the exact job offer between a person with natural hair and a dark complexion, compared to a person of a fairer skinned complexion and straight hair ?”

Discriminatory events such as these do not paint positive pictures especially in the minds of females growing up. As a result of this, they may now gravitate towards wearing makeup lighter than their skin tones or purchasing skin lightening products to fit in and feel accepted or even beautiful because of the stereotype that society has painted.

Dark skinned or black persons are usually stigmatized as ghetto and persons of no class. They are usually visualized as persons who are loud and ‘have no behaviour’ due to their expressive ways of showing their identity. Individuals obtaining darker skin colours are also judged or stereotyped as gangsters, criminals and ‘zessers’. Tv shows also tend to portray this stereotypical image of dark-skinned persons: pants sagging, involved with gangs and drugs, always carrying a gun, violent. This plays a huge role regarding the intolerance and mistrust towards persons of dark skin tones.

“Who would you be more afraid to pass on the street if you were alone, a dark-skinned negro or a light skinned person with straight or mixed hair ? ”

In contrast, even though the issue of colourism tends to still have roots within our society, individuals today are beginning to embrace their ‘melanin filled skins’ and not feel ridiculed or victimized against by those of lighter shades.

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Okay so imagine this, a society where stereotypes doesn't even exist. Discrimination, no idea what that is! Inequality, never even heard of it! But that's all it will ever be an imagination, because society has allowed itself to become brainwashed by stereotypes, and as a result allowed it to shape their identity.

The Caribbean has always suffered and been a victim against intolerance and mistrust whether at everyday life situations, regionally or even governmental levels. Intolerance can be viewed as the "fact of refusing to accept ideas, beliefs or behaviour that are different from your own." - Cambridge Dictionary.

There are topics that have always been an issue to society and have started numerous arguments, discriminatory comments and actions when brought up. Areas such as: race, colourism, religion and gender, just to highlight a few, are some of the major areas that generates intolerance and mistrust within the Caribbean. Citizens tend to turn their cheeks and hold strong opinions against topics such as these, due to their relations with history, culture, upbringing and their concept of identity. However, these incidents can all be eradicated if society were to put aside their biased perspectives and approach such matters unitedly.

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INTOLERANCE AND MISTRUST WITH RESPECT TO GENDER. 

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INTOLERANCE AND MISTRUST WITH RESPECT TO GENDER. 

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Should someone’s gender determine their ability to access everyday resources and rights such as happiness, comfort, a sense of pride, etc ?

The answer is no someone’s gender should not stereotype their identity, the way a person should live or limit their access to privileges. However, society tends to make gender a biased subject which shows just how much intolerance and mistrust the Caribbean is characterized by today.

Females have always had a stereotype attached to them, they are viewed as ‘child bearers’, the ones to stay at home and take care of the entire household while their significant others (males) are regarded as the breadwinners of the family as they go out and make an income. Throughout history females have been limited access to things such as education and job opportunities. Male children were always sent to school to pursue an education and later become doctors, lawyers and accountants whilst females were kept at home and taught how to cook, clean and take care of the home and their family. This level of intolerance limits females to embrace their full potential within society

In the same way, males were usually favoured for the work environment due to their high levels of endurance, education, skills and lack of emotional attachment towards issues. This shows an intolerance towards gender. However, with time females were working and offered job positions but they will always suffer injustice. Females would have to work ten times harder than men and still be refused certain opportunities within their job. They would struggle with moving up the work and social ladder as they were unable to grow professionally. This is because men were always favoured for top managerial positions, as a result of this the ‘glass ceiling effect’ was rampant, where females would always see the top positions, but they would never be able to rise beyond a certain level in the work hierarchy. Society has allowed these forms of discrimination to determine who is fit to run a business or bring in more income. And it doesn’t stop there.

Women within the workplace would have to struggle with being sexually harassed on a day to day business, told that if they want to grow and succeed, they would have to give more of themselves; Literally. Why should a woman have to encounter such situations when she is just as obligated to a job position as a man ?

Nevertheless, within society today there has been a change against the stereotypes of women as there has been a cry for equal rights and the presence of feminist groups. We have overcome that stereotype when we had our first female prime minister, The Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar in 2010. We also have the female population being more academically inclined and receiving a higher number of scholarships and degrees than men. Females in society today are now able to embrace their full potential as they put off ‘child making’ and go after their careers becoming CEO’s and persons in top managerial and high paying positions. They are no longer held back from climbing the social ladder as they hold a sense of independency against the male population .