FIRST WORD
Fostering Open-Mindedness in Children:
A Focus on Race and Bias
The past year has shown us both internationally and locally that racism and bias are two topics that continue to be of great consequence. The murders of George Floyd (46), Breonna Taylor (26) and Ahmaud Arbery (25) woke the world up to the systemic racism that is rife in the USA and galvanised many to take a closer look at whether being non-racist is enough and if more effort should go into being actively anti-racist in our everyday lives. – Nasaria Budal
Many families in Cayman and beyond realised that more needs to be done in the way of educating people of all ages as to the many faces of racism, the way it shapes and affects the everyday lives of those impacted and why it needs to be addressed, starting in the home. As a parent, one way you can support this movement is by incorporating open-mindedness and unbiased teachings into your overarching parenting strategy.
Racism in the Cayman Islands
While there are few instances of systemic and outright racial discrimination in the Cayman Islands, there can be occurrences of bias and bigotry, most of which are directly tied to incorrect assumptions about a person and the stereotypes often placed on his or her race. With over 130 nationalities represented in the local population, the framework to engage with persons of many different races is sometimes met with an underlying swell of casual racism and prejudice. Typically the three kinds of bias at the forefront of these interactions are:
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Cayman Parent Magazine | First Word
1. Expatriate vs Local: This is by far the largest, most profound and certainly the most widely discussed case of prejudice in the Cayman Islands. There are several debates within any number of political, social, familial and employment arenas as to whether expatriates are given preferential treatment over Caymanians (which includes born-Caymanians and Status Holders) in regards to job openings and career progression, housing rentals, acceptance into primary and secondary private schools, and even social situations, like ordering a drink at the bar. It’s not fair, however, to treat this as a blanket statement; not every Caymanian or expatriate feels this way. In fact, the majority of Caymanians welcome and befriend expatriates. However, as is the case in most places in the world, there are a select few who feel strongly against “all others”, regardless of race, ethnicity or nationality. 2. Caymanians vs Status Holders vs Right-to-be Caymanians: The term “local” is usually reserved for bornCaymanians, who differentiate themselves from persons who have received Caymanian Status or the Right to be Caymanian,
