Yes, indeed, Rebecca. Sadly, Barbados was once a key part of the triangular trade, and some of the codes used to oppress Black people in America were developed here.

Like many places, despite the optics, the history of enslavement and colonialism runs deep and has lasting effects, including colorism, and a situation where the descendants of enslaved people still don’t have the same financial muscle as the descendants of the colonizers.

Racism is racism is racism. I have experienced it in the Caribbean, in the UK, in France, and in the US. It stings the same — and stinks the same — everywhere.