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Somewhere, Anywhere, Right Now in Trinidad
1. An Afro Trinidadian university student to her Afro Trinidadian friend who is also a
university student:
Girl, Dr. Seunarine racial that is why she fail my oral presentation.
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2. An East Indian secondary school student to his East Indian friend who is also a secondary school student:
Hear nah dread, everybody know Mr. Duncan doh like Indians that is why he does get on with me so. Dat is facts.
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3. A Dougla URP worker to her Afro Trinidadian half-brother who is also a URP worker:
All dem Indian and dem does make sure they study dey work and ensure they children go prestige school and get nice wuk and we black people always staggering behind because we like fancy thing and bling.
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4. An East Indian mother to her East Indian daughter:
Doh bring no black boy home for me here eh, I not saying you can’t have friends but you is not to stress me and yuh father out by getting pregnant by no black boy, find a nice Indian boy to marrid.
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5. An Afro Trinidadian Elderly woman to a young Afro Trinidadian boy in her congregation after church service:
Look how big you reach already nah, make sure and find a nice wholesome black girl eh, a Christian woman. Doh get tie up with them Indian girl.
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6. A Facebook comment under a photo of a Hindu celebration:
Steups. Why dey must have dey devil worship nonsense by where the public does bathe.
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7. A political leader to supporters:
The other party has made race baiting the primary tool in this election campaign and this party will not condone such repulsive language and behaviour. Our nation is better than this and if you abhor the tactics used by the opposing party and believe in our national anthem that boasts “every creed and race find an equal place” you will vote for the L.I.E and help move our country in the right direction.
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8. The leader of the opposing political party:
Family, friends, brothers, sisters, children, dog, cat, my fellowmen, fellowladies and those who are yet to decide their gender, Goodnight. The campaign of the opposing party has been drenched in mudslinging and lies from the day elections were called. They have gone so far as to bring racism to the forefront of the political spectrum, and this is endemic in their party. They insult the people of this nation and aim to divide us by race in hopes to dismantle the
progress we have made as an independent nation over the past 56 years. I say to you tonight that the leaders of this party only know one race that is the human race. If you want a government that takes care of everyone, not only dey friends in high places, vote for F.I.B and on election night sleep well knowing you made the right choice for your country and your great grandchildren.
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Flashback 10 years before: *reread
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Flash-forward 20 years ahead: *reread*
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Akhim Alexis is a 23 year old Masters student at the UWI, in the Faculty of Humanities and Education, St Augustine, where he is pursuing a Masters in Literatures in English.