How slavery has affected todays culture in Barbados

Slave hut in Barbados

With the population now standing at 93% black, 3% white Bajan and others (without the tourist or visitors), there is a visible divide between these people.  White Bajans ie the 'old' families, still believe to a certain extent that they are superior to blacks.  Where they used to hold the economic wealth and power, this is now not so.  Slavery has now transformed into a modern power play of white employer, keeping the black worker within strong constraints.
This has changed since the high expectation in education here in Barbados and black people going to universities abroad such as Canada, USA and England, bringing back knowledge and expertise that has had a lasting influence on the employment power shift.  Government is all black, doctors, lawyers, lecturers, teachers and leading businessmen.

There is a stream of thought that slavery is part of a shameful past and should be put to one side, or forgotten.  There is also a way of thinking that (black) people are African still.  I disagree with both of these statements.  Slavery was a huge part of the Caribbean islands history and although morally wrong, was important in the development and industry of the time.  I would never say slavery was right, just that it did happen and to try and forget about it is wrong.  Also the people here are not African, they are Barbadian, by birth and short term (200 year ) history.   I could say I'm Anglo-Saxon, French Norman, Celtic even,  but the bottom line is I'm British.  How far back do people want to hang onto, or need to unless it to make a statement about there current situation or existance.

I've never come across so much day to day racism as I have in this country, from all sides.  If you are not black enough it can be an issue, white old guard families against white red leg descents ie white indentured labour, white against anything not white, black against anything not black, Guianese marginalised from all sides.  There are countless examples every time I go out my door but it is too sad to react to so I try to ignore it or let it go.