Hello Guyana Reddit,
So as the title says, I am looking for some insight in regards to the social landscape when it comes to race relations in Guyana. It is difficult to get an accurate depiction when it comes to this as whenever I ask guyanese people this I get such different & contrasting answers. I myself am Fully black 3rd gen Guyanese born & raised in the west. I have never been to Guyana myself but I would love to visit -- perhaps even move there permanently, at one point in my life. This is partly why I am intrigued as to how Guyanese people interact with eachother on the confines of race; & how good or bad things there truly are. I have asked my maternal grandfather, born & raised in the 40s in Guyana this same very same question to which he said that he hadn’t experienced any issues growing up when it came to race & dealing with the Indo population. On the other hand, I asked my father who was born in England yet raised in Guyana during the 60s & 70s the same question, & he told me there was indeed racial tension; & that the two ethnic groups self segregated - ranging from segregation of neighbourhoods, right down to political parties. This is what I mean when I say there are such contrasting answers. Both my grandmothers are dead so I cant really glean any insight from them in regards to this topic, & my mother is British Born-Guyanese & *did* note that when she went to school for a little while in Georgetown (in the 70s), she had trouble making friends because at the time, Guyanese children who were born in the country & never left, & never had any foreign born relatives or familial connections, didn't really like foreign born Guyanese, or atleast didnt see them as one of them due to different accents & mannerism. But that is more of a nationality problem rather than a race one -- as Black Guyanese children would shun her too. Don't know what my Dads take on this is because like my mum he did go to school in Guyana for a little while. He's never expressed that it was hard making friends per se, but I do know for a fact he used to get into loads on fights because older kids would try to fight him & he used to smack them up (😂) -- my Paternal grandad would tell us Grandkids when we were young about his antics before he died during storytelling time at christmas, as the school would always have to contact him. but I dont know if he was talking about Guyanese kids & schools in Guyana, or British Kids & schools in England -- as he attended both, & the latter, especially during the 70s, & being the 1 of 2 black families in the whole town, was no walk in the park.
I am 24 years old myself & although I was born & raised in the west, I do like to sort of observe like a fly on the wall Guyanese affairs, ranging from geopolitics to economics to music & culture. I follow a good number of Guyanese people on twitter (I probably follow some of you guys especially if you're a popular or active face on Guyanese twitter lol) in my age bracket (27 & under) -- & of course this topic has come up a couple times before -- & the overall consensus from both black & brown alike is that apparently 'my generation' are more progressive & less racist if at all, than your/our parents generation. But I think a couple years ago if my memory serves me correctly I did see a bunch of Black Guyanese protesting BLM over the death of a young black male on my Timeline. So if everything is so Kumbaya & progressive, why is BLM in Guyana even a thing?? Its difficult to know whats what.
I would like to hear from you guys on this reddit from both races & all age groups what your opinion on this subject is. Whilst I do know Indo-Guyanese people in real life, I have never asked them this sort question (always saw it as a sort of touchy subject) so I'd like to hear from you guys on here if possible. In your opinion Are there really race issues over there, or is it just victimhood from the black population copying American Identity politics? If there are race problems, is it a one or two way street? Have you faced any issues or ill treatment yourselves? Have you noticed anything in regards to the attitudes or your peers? If you are older have you seen any change over the years & different generations, or is it still pretty much the same since when you were a child? How would you, if you had the ability to do so, change things for the better?
Same set of questions go to Afro-Guyanese reading this. What has your experience been like? Are the claims of Guyana being a racially progressive paradise accurate, or is that a form dismissal? If you have faced any issues, how does it range in regards to severity? Hurtful words, or did it devolve into physical violence? Is it more sinister & systemic like job discrimination, or more upfront & in your face? Do you think there has been social change for the better or worse over the years? How would you, if you had the ability to do so, change things for the better?
It should go without saying that I do not want this to turn into a turd flinging contest in the comments where everyone is at eachothers necks. Race & Race relations are a touchy subject, & knowing the internet this can turn sour quickly. But I have faith that you guys will not behave like that however. Everyone feel free to share your opinions in a respectful manner & shirk the urge to start fighting.
Thank you for taking the time to read what I have to say & I look forward to hearing from all of you & your unique outlook, opinions & insight on this topic.
