Beyond race: saving the soul of T&T

The author makes a passionate plea for the preservation of Trinidad and Tobago's national identity, asserting that shared citizenship should be the paramount unifying factor. However, they observe a dangerous trend where ethnic affiliations are increasingly overshadowing this collective identity, leading to a society that defines itself by race rather than by its common bond as citizens.

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Before I am any of these things, I am a citizen and child of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. That is the identity that should unite us above all others.

This growing emphasis on ethnicity is fueling racial hostility, evident across social media and daily conversations, which the author believes should alarm every citizen. The tendency to reduce individuals to their skin color, surname, or community of origin has replaced genuine understanding with stereotypes and trust with suspicion. Consequently, entire ethnic groups are being blamed for the actions of individuals, and critical national issues, from crime and education to employment and the economy, are being viewed through a divisive racial lens.

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Somewhere along the way, we have become comfortable reducing people to the colour of their skin, the sound of their surname, or the community from which they come. We have allowed stereotypes to replace understanding and suspicion to replace trust.

Such a perspective is deemed unhealthy for democracy and marks the beginning of social decay. Trinidad and Tobago's history is characterized by extraordinary diversity, with contributions from various ethnic groups forming the nation's rich tapestry. The author contends that diversity itself has never been the primary challenge; rather, it is the inability to rise above ethnic divisions that hinders progress. When race becomes the primary lens through which people are viewed, merit is overlooked, dialogue becomes impossible, and compromise is seen as betrayal.

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Our diversity has never been our greatest challenge. Our inability to rise above it has.

The author warns against this dangerous path, explaining that racism extends beyond overt slurs to subtle assumptions, casual stereotypes, and the normalization of prejudice. This environment thrives when silence replaces courage, and decent people fear challenging prejudice. The piece concludes by emphasizing that no nation strengthens itself by allowing hatred to define its future, referencing the Constitution's guarantee of equality, the national anthem's call for unity, and the national pledge to dedicate oneself to the welfare of all citizens.

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No nation has ever become stronger by allowing hatred to define its future.