Stigmatising the Afro-Trinidadian male

THE EDITOR: I would like to comment on an article presented in your daily newspaper on Thursday November 6, 2003 by Samantha Dabideen of Valsayn North and the current conflict about whether or not preferential treatment should be given to Afro-Trinidadian males in terms of education. As an Afro-Trinidadian female student, I was shocked at the racist statements made by Ms Dabideen. As a country we have often boasted about a multi-cultural and unified society and yet still we have citizens who think along these primitive lines of colour, something that should be in our past. I took great offence for not only the Afro-Trinidadian population, but all Trinidadians to the statement at “I prefer my own kind.” Okay, so statistics show that Afro-Trinidadian males have been under-achieving, this is no reason to discriminate against them. What we need to do is put measures in place, which will encourage their growth. Shunning them in society will only increase and quicken their demise. This is the only way we as a society will move forward.

It is true that every young woman should place herself in a position where her physical and emotional well-being will not be threatened. This, however, should not be done by casting aside the entire Afro-Trinidadian male population as there are many Afro-Trinidadian males who are pursuing very fulfilling carers. Furthermore, many of them are leading very successful lives even though they have not taken the academic part. The accusation that they “have no respect for their own young women” is very general and it has been noted that other ethnicities also show great disregard for their women. So, I strongly disagree with Ms Dabideen’s belief that her “sisters” and herself should stay with “their own kind.” The proposal by Government to give Afro-Trinidadian males preferential admission into COSTAATT is already creating a domino effect and it is yet to be implemented. The country is alive with debate on whether or not this should take place. Individuals of other ethnicities have begun worrying that they will be left behind because the Government wants to better the Afro-Trinidadian males’ situation. Women are also worried that they will lose chances to further themselves if this proposal is implemented. The average Afro-Trinidadian male is already being stigmatised. This is unfair to them as many do not fall under the category of under-achievers. An obvious result is that many begin to think of themselves as having no potential and give up on life itself entirely.

The proposal to give Afro-Trinidadian males preferential treatment is not a good one at all. This will only cause further problems in the long run. The consequences of such actions should be looked at before making rash decisions. If individuals without the potential for tertiary education are allowed to attain it by 2020 this country will be in a worse situation than it is presently. We will have individuals without the potential to lead us. Ignorance will become a common commodity within our country. The Government needs to put programmes in place at primary and secondary school level to show individuals the importance of education and encourage them to strive for excellence. The most that can be done for the present young adult males is to hold seminars encouraging them of their self-worth and maybe have ongoing advertisements, which tell of their importance in society. This is the only way to improve the situation of our people. As with division, preferential treatment and discrimination will only bring about our demise. We must come together and form a united front in this struggle for betterment.

ALANA SAMPSON
Proponent of the development of TT
La Horquetta