Guyana is an Indigenous word meaning “Land of many waters” and the only native English-speaking country in South America. It is a culturally diverse country with a total of six ethnic groups that have been divided by racial prejudice: Indigenous, African, East Indian, Portuguese, and Chinese. Racism is deeply rooted in our country’s history, creating a divide in wealth and opportunity.
I am of African descent. The reality is that racism in my country is mainly against Afro Guyanese, even though Afro and Indo Guyanese make up the bulk of the population. Most opportunities provided depend heavily on your network, and many Afro Guyanese lacked these opportunities. However, I was fortunate enough to grow up in the middle class and become a dental surgeon, and I’ve never been called horrible things to my face or been treated in an overtly racist way—but the persistent racism those around me face has bothered me. The worst thing I’ve heard is, “You are cultured for one of them.” I always remember that statement because it just made my heart sink.
When I started volunteering, I met many different people and became aware of the harsh social evils that I had been sheltered from, such as poverty, gender-based violence, racial discrimination, and inequality. I have been involved in my church’s youth group, Global Shaper Community, VOICE, and more. By participating in frameworks that help people share and implement ideas to develop their communities, countries, and the world, I have seen how young people with big ideas can make big differences. This is what drives me.
I dream with eyes wide open of a better Guyana truly embracing our motto: One People, One Nation, One Destiny. A place where we vehemently dismiss the narrative of superiority and rewrite our history with love and unity. As the Guyanese proverb goes, “one one dutty build dam,” which means small efforts over time will create the needed change. No matter how small the effort, if you continue to accumulate that effort without giving up, great changes can occur. I dream of seeing, with my own eyes, a unified country where no one race dominates. We will continue to raise our voices in unison to inspire peace and harmony, thus making that dream a reality.
———–
Get a copy of WE HAVE A DREAM 201 Dreams 201 Countries