Disrespect for African male

THE EDITOR: Denise Belfon has done her race a great disservice by attempting to project the Indian man as an object of sexual desire by African women. At a time when successful African males are under attack by their female counterparts for marrying white women the silence from the African male community is deafening! Why do we need to express our disapproval quietly and “behind closed doors”?

To boast that African women should get “ah Indian man to jam meh inside de session” because they “yearning,” “hungry” and “thirsty” for an Indian man is disrespectful to the African male and damaging to his pride. It is insensitive and certainly does little to help with the low self-esteem that presently exists. What’s more, the exhortation to find an Indian man to “choonkay yuh curry” is a clear betrayal of the reality as most African women still marry within their race due to cultural reasons.

Ms Belfon must realise that while every Trini enjoys calypso it is an artform that is indigenous to African people. Wearing a sari and hurting “the black man who just feeling to party” by spurning him in favour of Indian men is unfortunate. We should do our utmost best to protect our heritage and use the artform to instill a sense of pride in our African men and women. I for one, hope that this is an aberration that will peter out.

DANE ROCKE
Curepe