Tuesday, 12th January 2021 — For the month of January in this new year, Spirit has guided me to write a series of commentaries regarding our relationships with people. From birth to death, we’re immersed in all kinds of relations. Last week, I wrote about those with family, especially between parents and children. In this week’s column, I speak on connections we have mingling with persons in the Anguilla community.
Anyone who really knows me well realises that I am very outspoken. So, I will touch on subjects speaking truths I’ve observed, which may be unfathomable for some folks. Nevertheless, I’m guided by the Most-High’s wisdom to talk about matters impacting all of our lives – and which we must take a closer self-examination of to see where we individually and collectively need to shift and change positively.
I am all about uplifting humanity, so each of us achieves greater heights of conscious living and we all become the best persons whom the Creator created us to be. It’s imperative we create a better world in which we live harmoniously and which we pass on to future generations yet to come.
There are thoughts weighing on my conscience that have really come to the forefront of my contemplations in light of what transpired last week in the nation’s capital of the United States of America. It is the sense of entitlement that I have seen exhibited amongst many Americans, of predominantly European ancestry, who falsely believe they are superior to people of diverse ethnic backgrounds.
What happened at the command of the soon to be relieved of his office US President, and as well a large population of whites, is an act of destructive, non-patriotic terrorism that we in our small community of Anguilla cannot allow to happen in this Caribbean nation.
During December 2020 and throughout the Christmas holidays whilst out and about, I observed people’s behaviour and interactions as I usually do. I shopped, handled business, and attended social events and friends’ gatherings. What became clearer to me in my observations was that there are certain individuals who haven’t yet grasped the concept of mixing and mingling with everyone in the community.
Our relationships with one another, especially in a 35-square mile island, are very important to everyone. How we perceive and act with each other has either a positive or negative effect on the whole society.
Friends and I recently discussed behaviour we’ve witnessed amongst some expats and Anguillians. I dare say we have room for improvement in how we conduct ourselves in this close-knit society. If we wish to portray an image of equality for all, then we must shift our conscious awareness.
As an observer of humanity’s conscious and unconscious behaviour, I’m compelled to address the sensitive topic of race and nationality. They influence how we perceive people in the world and our interactions with those whom we meet and are in community with. What I’ve observed is nothing new to human life. Yet it’s a study that I’ve always researched and behaviour which I recognise must transform globally.
I’ve noted the separateness of persons at various social gatherings and venues. What stood out is the way in which a few expats socialise and behave within the Anguilla community. It’s reflective of how they behave in their countries of origin and the attitudes they’ve engrained from childhood towards people who don’t look like them.
The social constructs that they were taught show how they have a tendency to gravitate towards one another in their circle of acquaintances, excluding local residents of multi-hued shades. This behavioural pattern is a key component at the core of the Black Lives Matter movement in America.
Oftentimes, people are unaware they exhibit a sense of entitlement or privilege. Snubbing persons who don’t belong in our circle, or who aren’t known to us, occurs amongst various ethnicities and nationalities. However, our population in Anguilla is far too small for us to discriminate against anyone.
Visitors talk about the friendliness of Anguilla’s people. Yet is it only on the surface? Have we observed our inherited biases? Do we see God in every person whom we meet or merely observe outer appearances making us seem different? These are questions to ask ourselves. We must look at how we treat one another. May we all embrace Anguilla as one community.
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Kay M Ferguson is a conscious writer, who writes under the nom de plume Empress Extraordinaire, composing words to enlighten and uplift humanity. Connect with her on social media — Facebook and LinkedIn or email anguillawriter@gmail.com.
