Noelle Nicolls

THERE is no better group of women in our society to highlight the racial and class divide in the Bahamas than straw vendors in the downtown straw market.
Every time there is a flare up over the straw market, I observe with great interest the way in which people express their views about vendors.

The typical debate reveals an undercurrent of classism and race consciousness that exists inside our society. It is not something Bahamians like to acknowledge or discuss critically, but it is a very pervasive condition, I would dare say, deserving our critical attention.

October 12 is upon us once again and naturally the country is geared
up for its national day off. In whose name have we been granted the
honour of rest: none other than the honourable international terrorist
Christopher Columbus. Unfortunately I cannot rest or tire from
speaking out about our national commemoration of Discovery Day because
to this day, the status quo remains.
Last week I drove past Government House and I was halted in traffic
right in front of the white gates. Towering over me was a white statue
of Christopher Columbus. At its base was a rusting black iron cannon
aimed right at me. I was affronted by the symbolism of this design.
There he was carved in stone as an honoured symbol of power. I often
wonder if the statue was placed there by our former enslavers to mock
our very existence.

MORE than ten years ago I took a Latin-American comparative film class
at the University of the West Indies, Mona and my professor shared a
perspective on culture that sticks with me to this day. He asked the
class one simple question. Who is an American?
Naturally, the class bellowed out the only seemingly intelligent
answer: Someone who is a citizen of the United States of America
(USA). To our surprise this answer was incorrect. The answer my
professor was looking for was, any national of the American
continents.