Pembroke College hosts Bermuda civil rights leader

On 8th May, Pembroke College and the Oxford University Race and Resistance network hosted a seminar which focussed on the Bermuda Civil Rights movement.

Professor Stephen Tuck of Pembroke College chaired a discussion with Reverend Kingsley Tweed, a Bermudian octogenarian who was one of the leaders of the civil rights movement. The Mary Eccles room was full to capacity buzzing with students, academics and Bermudians, including the former Premier of Bermuda.

Rev Tweed welcomed his audience with an impromptu performance on the piano before the scheduled screening of the documentary 'When Voices Rise'.  The film, made by Guyanese filmmaker Errol Williams, powerfully documents actions taken by the brave black Bermudian men and women during the 1959 Theatre Boycott that ultimately led to the desegregation of Bermuda.

This civil rights event is similar to other events held by other organisations such as the Oxford University Student Union Campaign for Racial Awareness and Equality.  Indeed, former Premier Dame Pamela Gordon-Banks praised Pembroke College for providing a platform to discuss these important issues, noting that "Bermuda is finally coming to terms with acknowledging a shameful racist past that has negatively impacted so many people's lives, for so many years. We, the Bermudian people must honestly and constructively address the systemic associated ills with meaningful corrective action. We must also recognise that our country's future well-being depends on a resolution that is fair to all concerned.”

These sentiments were echoed by Brian Kwoba, a DPhil student at Pembroke College and organiser of the Oxford Pan-Afrikan Forum, “I had the pleasure to learn from a veteran of the struggle who has paid a heavy price for speaking truth to power, yet he still maintains a continuing commitment to global justice and liberation of oppressed people even at the tender age of 82.  We need more Rev Tweeds in the world!”

The lifelong social activist was “very touched by the warm welcome” he received from the academics, students and porters of Pembroke College. A special thank you to the Academic Director of Pembroke College Professor Mark Fricker and Conference Administrator Joanne Bowley.

article by Alexa Virdi, a Bermudian DPhil Candidate in Law at Pembroke College

More about TORCH Race and Resistance network: http://www.torch.ox.ac.uk/raceresist

More about OUSU Campaign for Racial Awareness and Equality: http://ousu.org/get-involved/campaigns/crae/

Media coverage of this event is available at http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20150422/NEWS/150429916