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I condemn the racism contained in these two letters

Feb 17, 2013 Letters

Dear Editor,
Without reservation, I condemn the racism contained in two letters published in the Guyana Chronicle: “What prevents Blacks from utilizing better business opportunities being provided” written by Vassan Ramracha and “ “Haad wuk” is responsible for success of Indians” written by Devanand Bhagwan..These gentlemen attempt to portray Blacks as a people of “unparalleled lethargy” that cannot “feed themselves or their families.”
While Indians are portrayed as thrifty and possessing “consummate business acumen.” These types of caricatures are most unhelpful to solving the problem of developing Guyana for all Guyanese.
All Guyanese are hardworking when given an opportunity, talent is uniform across this nation and no race is superior to the other.The Black minibus driver is just as hardworking as the Indian, the Black schoolteacher is just as dedicated as the Indian, the Black student is just as diligent as the Indian…the list goes on and on.
To believe that Indians have some superior business acumen over his African brother is patently false and racist. Messer Ramracha and Bhagwan should take a trip to Stabroek, Bourda, La Penitance,ect. And they will see vendors of all races making an honest living, the Black stallholder besides his Indian neighbor and each looking out for the other.
In the context of Guyanese history, Black dominated the civil service because they were they were the first beneficiaries of British colonial education. And logically gravitated to the service sector (teaching, police, law, medicine, etc.). On the other hand, Indians engaged in rice planting which was the source of incipient capital accumulation. The Indianswereable to save more because they resided in the countryside where the cost of living was less than the city.
The Black population was trapped in anurban environment with a higher cost of living. Thus they saved less. The disparity in savings in not the product of some superior Indian trait or business acumen but rather a fortuitous byproduct of where Indians lived.
For Indians who live in the USA (such as me), we owe an immeasurable debt to Blacks who have engaged in the civil rights struggles…and we (the Johnnies come lately) have benefitted without ever having to struggle. It is now hypocritical for those in the USA to posit that Indian success in America is the product of racial superiority because we have benefitted from the Black American experience without incurring the cost.
All too often discussions about Guyana descend into the cesspool of Black versus Indians.
However, we are a country of six peoples and our energies should be dedicated to uplifting all Guyanese. I pray that one day we can see the beauty, energy, intelligence, sportsmanship, etc. of my fellow Guyanese without ever having to hear of their race or religion.
Roger Ally

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