THE EDITOR, Sir:
I WANT to comment on the 'colour' question as raised by Dawn Ritch in her 'White Man's Burden' article in a recent edition of The Sunday Gleaner and Melville Cooke's responses.
It is sad to note that Mr. Cooke's definition of colour is taken from the USA's 'one drop' definition. I have no doubt that Mr. Cooke is a proud black man, just as I am a proud white man but I do wish he could display more tolerance and less bigotry.
I have been married to a black Jamaican woman for nearly 20 years and we have two beautiful children. Now Mr. Cooke, please tell me how my children can possibly be black when I, their father, am white? Conversely, how can they be white when their mother is black? The answer is of course they can't; they are of mixed race.
It has nothing to do with denying one colour, it is about accepting and celebrating both.
If having a wonderful black wife and two beautiful mixed kids, is the 'White Man's Burden', then I thank God, for there has never been a sweeter burden. You and those like you are the burden, Mr. Cooke, no matter what skin colour you all may have. Thank God most Jamaicans don't think like you do.
I am, etc.,
A WHITE/BLACK MAN
