00:00Sociologist, director of the Black Agenda Project and leader of the Nation of Islam,
00:06Dr. David Muhammad tells the Morning Edition that generations of Afro-Trinbegonians have
00:12been encouraged to suppress aspects of their identity to fit into society.
00:18All other ethnic groups have already socially incorporated the cultures of the traditions
00:25that made them empowered in their day-to-day lives. We're still talking about it from the
00:30point of view of an academic curriculum or a syllabus where we still have to have these
00:36conversations and seminars and workshops about incrementally punctuating our history books with
00:43the truth. Dr. Muhammad argues that while other ethnic communities have successfully integrated
00:50empowering elements of their heritage into their lives, many Afro-Trinbegonians continue to
00:57approach their own history and identity with hesitation, particularly in Trinidad.
01:03But only African people in Trinidad and Tobago say this.
01:10We're having a conversation about race and ethnicity.
01:14We feel the need, and it happens every day. We say, I am not racist, but, and then we make
01:25a point,
01:26I think we should support black business and that black business opportunities. And we say,
01:31I am not racist, but I think we should have more black history in schools, you know,
01:38or I am not racist, sir. But why is there a need to explain? Exactly. This is my point.
01:45I am. He adds that visibility alone does not equal empowerment and says governments must also do
01:53better. If you can show me one government that this country has ever had, that has made the empowerment
02:04of African people a priority, then I will give you some kind of special prize that doesn't exist,
02:10because that reality doesn't exist. Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
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