AAI Webmaster's Comment : Barbados Free Press is jointly produced by Marcus, Robert, Cliverton and Shona - they published a very interesting piece that is right on target, answering the question 'Why should the Amistad continue to sail and visit as many places as possible?'  Each and every visit of the Freedom Schooner serves as a catalyst for conversations on race -  both, official, public ones and probably, more important - those private and intimate  - like the following one.

With the Amistad in town, a few of us who are café au lait (or “misto” for our loyal readers at Starbucks) might have a different perspective than some other folks… or maybe not. Everyone looks at the Amistad with their own eyes, but in our home the ship’s visit is a catalyst that makes us talk not only about the history of these fields, but about where we as individuals and as a family come from. Even one of our family who always says (or pretends to say) “skin colour don’t matter” finally admitted today that yes, skin colour still matters on this rock.

Not the way it used to, and not as some might think - but it still matters to some.

It is no secret that we have some relatives in New York, and when the girls get together whether in Bridgetown or Brooklyn, do you know what the sisters do first thing? Out come the arms and they put them side by side to see who’s lighter or darker on this visit. Little sister from NYC is always lighter in the winter, but darker in the summer because she works outside.

When they compare skin tones I always ask them why they do it. The answer is always an evasion or question about don’t I have something to do somewhere else - but they always do it first thing when they haven’t seen each other for a while.

I say “What does it matter?” and they laugh and say that it matters to them. Every time....

Read More... -  visit Barbados Free Press Blog 

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