racism on the islands

I develop software for a group of researchers who just marketed the world's first dengue vaccine. Three of those researchers are from the VI...two from St. Croix, one from St. Thomas, all PhD's.

BTW. I consider the video above of Senator Figueroa-Serville to be a racist rant. This was in the senate and was broadcast on public access television. He was followed soon after by similar remarks from Senator Ronnie Russell. (video also on youtube).

Far from racist. A false allegation, perhaps, but not racist. A racist statement might have looked like: "I hereby propose a bill to prevent the tiny white population from owning almost all of our territory's most valuable companies and real estate."

And to be clear, Figueroa and Ronnie, since making those statements, have failed to be reelected to the Senate. The population was responsive, at least in their cases, to incompetence. Sadly, Mapp recently tasked Figueroa with overseeing the Department of Health, despite him not having a college degree or a single healthcare-related credential.

I would love to see some of the VI talent being able to come back here and do the same. Or maybe come here and start their own businesses. The brain drain is not helping.

Imagine how different the islands would be if we had all that talent here. I think local youth seeing people like themselves who have succeeded would do wonders.

This is why I take issue with the suggestion that the VI is racist against whites and locals retain some sort of privilege.

Who made that suggestion? Just about everybody who's posted here enjoys relationships with their fellow Virgin Islanders of all races, colors and creeds. The only poster who's been making a big performance routine out of "privileged" whites and transplants and generally panning everyone other than bahn-heres is you. I don't think you know exactly what you think.

Another mostly off topic post....
I started programming professionally in 1973. I learned to program in FORTRAN and IBM 1130 assembly language in 1967 while in high school. My first exposure to a black programmer was not a great one. I was a manager at AT&T back in the mid 70's before the breakup of the Bell System. AT&T was very much into Affirmative Action. We had AA/EEOC compliance reviews every quarter and had strict quotas to meet. I ended up with an AA programmer. He was unfortunately not qualified for the job. AA employees were "protected", they did not go through the normal review process. He was there to stay despite his inability to do his job. I suggested to him that he might want to take advantage of the generous tuition reinbursement offered by AT&T and go back to school to learn how to program. He ended up like a hot potato, being passed around from team to team. He should never have been put in a position where he would fail like that.

I have always been an Operating Systems or Embedded Systems programmer. I was in charge of microcode development for the Burroughs B5900 mainframe, Burroughs' first "soft" CPU. Programming is an area where there is much diversity these days but back in the 70's it was hard to find qualified minority and female candidates. Except for Asians. My boss at AT&T was an Asian female, she filled two quota slots. She was very qualified. At Microsoft, I was part of the original NT team. I was in charge of network transport development, TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, CLNP/TP4, etc. I had Asians, East Indians and white guys in my group, no blacks or females. I never had a black applicant and very few female applicants.

I would love to see more schools on island pushing kids toward programming. It is a high paying career with lots of opportunity. Schools here should be teaching things that help people actually get a job. Back in the old days you needed access to a mainframe computer in order to learn how to program, not true today. A PC or MAC is more than adequate. Computer programming is one of the fields where these days with the Internet, someone would be able to live in the VI and work virtually anywhere. Maybe some of the successful black programmers can come home and act as a role model for the kids. It is hard for outsiders to make the same impression on kids as one of their own showing that it can work and that they can be successful. Kids need a mentor, I think the push for education should come from the parents but in lieu of that a role model with which they can identify is the next best thing. It does take work, no one can wave a magic wand and make you a programmer.

Far from racist. A false allegation, perhaps, but not racist. A racist statement might have looked like: "I hereby propose a bill to prevent the tiny white population from owning almost all of our territory's most valuable companies and real estate."

And to be clear, Figueroa and Ronnie, since making those statements, have failed to be reelected to the Senate. The population was responsive, at least in their cases, to incompetence. Sadly, Mapp recently tasked Figueroa with overseeing the Department of Health, despite him not having a college degree or a single healthcare-related credential.

Again, I think we disagree on the definition of racism. Individual racism can be expressed verbally. When a couple of our senators, on the floor of the senate, start accusing someone they don't like of being a KKK member and having KKK cronies who are trying to keep the black people down. That is racist. Especially when it is false. The recall attempt, as a result of the passing of 6905, was supported by locals and transplants alike however these senators tried to turn it into a racial division by attempting to make Roger W Morgan appear racist.

And to be clear, not a single other senator stood up to condemn the statements made by these two.

I posted the video so that people could see it for themselves. I think it is racist I would be interested to hear what others think. Does the perception of racism in this fall along racial lines?

I work with many young locals and the biggest complaint I hear from them has nothing to do with color their biggest complaint is "why don't these old government employees who do nothing and get paid just step down to give us a chance"

Imagine how different the islands would be if we had all that talent here. I think local youth seeing people like themselves who have succeeded would do wonders.

Don't hang out with the local youth much do you?

I work with many young locals and the biggest complaint I hear from them has nothing to do with color their biggest complaint is "why don't these old government employees who do nothing and get paid just step down to give us a chance"

exactly... to the younger generation here this is basically a non-issue (I include my generation) but hey.. keep focusing on it, reminding each other of their (minor) differences & speculating on "if it's racist" or not; that's gonna help the situation for sure!

The game only continues as long as you carry the ball.

Well, I guess we all agree there is racism here, just like just about everywhere else in the world. Sad to say. To what degree, depends on the individual, either on the giving or receiving end.
To dwell endlessly on it and our differences, instead of finding common ground seems pointless.
Happy Holidays, y'all and Merry Christmas, too!

rotor, when i first heard of that, my first thought was racist-that still stands today. though later i did have a chance to wait on him when i worked downtown he was very nice. he also said he could not believe how nice i was.
i also waited on an older black man ( i am extremely clumsy , so much so that my dad always said my middle name should have been grace, due to lack of ) everything i touched i dropped, more than once. he erroneously assumed it was due to his color and he verbalized that to me. really made it hard to be nice after that exchange.

i happen to know a very nice young black man who is in IT-worked for a local company and now has his own business-yes, he lives here.

I work with many young locals and the biggest complaint I hear from them has nothing to do with color their biggest complaint is "why don't these old government employees who do nothing and get paid just step down to give us a chance"

(tu)(tu)(tu) We elected a governor 20 years past his prime. As a result, he put in a Police Commissioner who just crawled back out the casket, and yanked several other Commissioners out of retirement instead of promoting young talent.

Bob White, one of my favorite people in the VI, put it best: "In most societies, at this stage of life, we would be put on an ice flow and sent out to sea. However, here in our paradise we still get ancestor worship. Lucky us."

http://viconsortium.com/opinion/op-ed-governor-give-young-people-a-chance-in-your-administration/

Imagine how different the islands would be if we had all that talent here. I think local youth seeing people like themselves who have succeeded would do wonders.

Don't hang out with the local youth much do you?

I most certainly do. Sometimes after hours in a makeshift pool (or hammock) in the courtyard of a rather pink establishment on the west end that you fancy. 😉

Another mostly off topic post....
I started programming professionally in 1973. I learned to program in FORTRAN and IBM 1130 assembly language in 1967 while in high school. My first exposure to a black programmer was not a great one. I was a manager at AT&T back in the mid 70's before the breakup of the Bell System. AT&T was very much into Affirmative Action. We had AA/EEOC compliance reviews every quarter and had strict quotas to meet. I ended up with an AA programmer. He was unfortunately not qualified for the job. AA employees were "protected", they did not go through the normal review process. He was there to stay despite his inability to do his job. I suggested to him that he might want to take advantage of the generous tuition reinbursement offered by AT&T and go back to school to learn how to program. He ended up like a hot potato, being passed around from team to team. He should never have been put in a position where he would fail like that.

I have always been an Operating Systems or Embedded Systems programmer. I was in charge of microcode development for the Burroughs B5900 mainframe, Burroughs' first "soft" CPU. Programming is an area where there is much diversity these days but back in the 70's it was hard to find qualified minority and female candidates. Except for Asians. My boss at AT&T was an Asian female, she filled two quota slots. She was very qualified. At Microsoft, I was part of the original NT team. I was in charge of network transport development, TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, CLNP/TP4, etc. I had Asians, East Indians and white guys in my group, no blacks or females. I never had a black applicant and very few female applicants.

I would love to see more schools on island pushing kids toward programming. It is a high paying career with lots of opportunity. Schools here should be teaching things that help people actually get a job. Back in the old days you needed access to a mainframe computer in order to learn how to program, not true today. A PC or MAC is more than adequate. Computer programming is one of the fields where these days with the Internet, someone would be able to live in the VI and work virtually anywhere. Maybe some of the successful black programmers can come home and act as a role model for the kids. It is hard for outsiders to make the same impression on kids as one of their own showing that it can work and that they can be successful. Kids need a mentor, I think the push for education should come from the parents but in lieu of that a role model with which they can identify is the next best thing. It does take work, no one can wave a magic wand and make you a programmer.

(tu)(tu) Agreed. In many cases, well-intentioned affirmative action programs end up hurting the recipients in the long run.

I would love to see more schools on island pushing kids toward programming. It is a high paying career with lots of opportunity. Schools here should be teaching things that help people actually get a job. Back in the old days you needed access to a mainframe computer in order to learn how to program, not true today. A PC or MAC is more than adequate. Computer programming is one of the fields where these days with the Internet, someone would be able to live in the VI and work virtually anywhere. Maybe some of the successful black programmers can come home and act as a role model for the kids. It is hard for outsiders to make the same impression on kids as one of their own showing that it can work and that they can be successful. Kids need a mentor, I think the push for education should come from the parents but in lieu of that a role model with which they can identify is the next best thing. It does take work, no one can wave a magic wand and make you a programmer.

Well said rotor.

Sometimes after hours in a makeshift pool (or hammock) in the courtyard of a rather pink establishment on the west end that you fancy. 😉

Well you'd have to say hi some time (if we haven't met already.. I'm the young (I've been repeatedly told) white guy with a cane & a crappy haircut.. haha)!

Though I'm pulling my endorsement from PinkSpot... I've worked with them a repeatedly to no avail... I love the "spot", everything other than the building..... not so much anymore.

I'm hoping "the Fred" (The new Frederiksted hotel) will be as amazing as I think it will.. they have the original pinkspot cook (from when they opened and it was amazing) so that's a win in my book already.

But yeah, when I meant Youth I was thinking more in the 10-18 range... those are who we mainly work with via the horse rescue.

This is why I take issue with the suggestion that the VI is racist against whites and locals retain some sort of privilege.

Who made that suggestion? Just about everybody who's posted here enjoys relationships with their fellow Virgin Islanders of all races, colors and creeds. The only poster who's been making a big performance routine out of "privileged" whites and transplants and generally panning everyone other than bahn-heres is you. I don't think you know exactly what you think.

Au contraire: just defending my hometown (like a good patriot) against illogical allegations of prejudice.

Your fallacious argumentum ad populum (appeal to majority) fails as per usual. I've received many private messages supporting my push for a more nuanced discussion on this issue.

I love the "spot", but everything other than the building..... not so much anymore.

Hahaha I soooo know what you're talking about. And I will definitely out myself the next time...after several drinks most likely. 😀

Au contraire: just defending my hometown (like a good patriot) against illogical allegations of prejudice.

Your fallacious argumentum ad populum (appeal to majority) fails as per usual. I've received many private messages supporting my push for a more nuanced discussion on this issue.

Au contraire (to the contrary), when "defending my hometown" is based on denigrating those to whom it's home but who aren't native-born, that seems to me a prime and logical example of prejudice.

Those of us who learned Latin as part of our education need no translation, nor do we generally choose to use less understood Latin phrases when common English serves the purpose. Its usage can appear quite condescending.

As reluctant as you are to answer questions, maybe you can explain what a "more nuanced discussion on the issue" might be.

What are you going to do to right the wrongs and inequities? When did you last sign up to be a mentor to an underprivileged youngster? When are you going to actually DO anything constructive to better your hometown? Those that can, quietly do. Others loll around in hammocks and talk about what someone else ought to do.

use less understood Latin phrases when common English serves the purpose.

it was clearly the french version used, not latin

Those that can, quietly do..

I don't do anything quietly 😛

all those other quiet people should make some noise too!

Au contraire: just defending my hometown (like a good patriot) against illogical allegations of prejudice.

Your fallacious argumentum ad populum (appeal to majority) fails as per usual. I've received many private messages supporting my push for a more nuanced discussion on this issue.

Au contraire (to the contrary), when "defending my hometown" is based on denigrating those to whom it's home but who aren't native-born, that seems to me a prime and logical example of prejudice.

Those of us who learned Latin as part of our education need no translation, nor do we generally choose to use less understood Latin phrases when common English serves the purpose. Its usage can appear quite condescending.

As reluctant as you are to answer questions, maybe you can explain what a "more nuanced discussion on the issue" might be.

What are you going to do to right the wrongs and inequities? When did you last sign up to be a mentor to an underprivileged youngster? When are you going to actually DO anything constructive to better your hometown? Those that can, quietly do. Others loll around in hammocks and talk about what someone else ought to do.

Good questions. But you should know by now, that monogram is not into answering questions, just moving goalposts.

I don't do anything quietly 😛

all those other quiet people should make some noise too!

When you do something to help better the lot of others (animals or humans) there's a time to be quiet about it and a time to bluster and shout and get it out - I know you understand my point!

OT you don't know what any one of us does or does not do, to better the lot of others, so it's not nice to tell people to stop blustering and shouting. We might, each of us in our own way, do good deeds.

OT you don't know what any one of us does or does not do, to better the lot of others, so it's not nice to tell people to stop blustering and shouting. We might, each of us in our own way, do good deeds.

RIght. I don't respond to those "what have you done" posts because: (1) they're stupid, as anyone can lie on the internet; (2) they're completely ad hominem (latin, just for you, OldFart) and irrelevant to the merits of the issue at hand; and (3) they would lead many of us to "out" ourselves publicly. I'm not sure why people get so persnickety during intellectual exchanges.

This has been a very useful dialogue, though. It is interesting to see the perspective of those who see the West Indians as the ones in "power" due to their representation in government positions. I have always seen the yacht owners at Yacht Haven or the property owners in Shoys, etc as the real elite class. A political scientist might agree with the former perspective, while an economist might agree with the latter. Neither of these positions is absurd, although I suspect the property owner in Shoys would not trade in their house for a seat in the Senate, while I suspect that most Senators would trade in their seat for the elite property. In other words, as a young VI'er, my aspiration has always been to one day own a boat nice enough to win a boating competition or to teach my future kids to sail, etc. Not to be elected to the Zoo (Senate). WIth money, I'd be able to finance campaigns anyway (cue Randy Knight-the true VI power broker!). It's all a matter of perspective. Love the elevated level of discourse here.

-M

OT you don't know what any one of us does or does not do, to better the lot of others, so it's not nice to tell people to stop blustering and shouting. We might, each of us in our own way, do good deeds.

Where on earth did I do that? I think you're totally misinterpreting my point.

... I don't respond to those "what have you done" posts because ...

The questions were asked of you, as have others been asked in the past, simply because you've continuously said that it's the millenials such as yourself who'll essentially "save" the islands while in the same breath you've said that your peers don't vote. Ergo, one must assume that there is some brand new system (of democracy?) you subscribe to which negates the need of working in the system to change it. One is simply curious.