Barbadians encouraged to embrace who they are

In order for Barbadians of African descent to advance in all aspects of life, they must fully embrace who they are.

Minister of Labour and Member of Parliament for St Peter  Colin Jordan made this observation during a recent panel discussion and art exhibition at the Speightstown Branch Library, entitled Black Beauty.

“It is said to me that over 300 years of a certain framework being placed around us has impacted us … we are never going to be able to move forward properly or effectively until we come to grips with who we are,” Jordan said. 

“We are trying to move ourselves forward and if we are not sure who we are or if we are not comfortable with who we are we are not going to be able to move ourselves forward.”

Following Jordan’s address was a panel discussion moderated by Philosophy Lecturer Dr Roxanne Burton, based on the question: “What is your perception of beauty?”

Researcher and Lecturer in Psychology Joan Cuffie started the discussion saying that beauty is how people, particularly Black people feel about themselves.

“We come into that understanding of beauty through our interactions with the people who have brought us here, particularly our parents and the other people in our spaces,” she said.

“I speak about beauty and thinking about that inner beauty in talking about  personality and intellect but also recognizing that there is an outer component to that understanding of beauty,” she added.

Researcher and Lecturer in Psychology Joan Cuffie.

Head of the Department of the Creative and Performing Arts and senior lecturer in motion picture arts Andrew Millington explained the idea of beauty as “an identification of something that brings pleasure”.

He says what is key is that people of African descent should love themselves in their skin despite the tension to conform from the international community.

Specialist Lecturer in Caribbean History, Culture and African Art History Dr Nancy Fergusson also participated in the panel discussion recalling many times how she had to encourage and remind her students of African descent of the importance and wonders of Black beauty. (MR)