Bermuda in a changing world

In April 2021, SailGP was hosted in Bermuda. The politics of the event being allowed to take place during Covid ruffled feathers amongst locals and it was during this time I was educated on Bermudas Maritime history, specifically Pilot Darrell. I found it amazing that he, a black Bermudian, was such a significant figure in the maritime history of the world. Why these things aren't widely known amongst myself and my peers is a discussion for another day. I was able to appreciate why this was such an important event for others. People who I've known for years I had no idea were sailors, like my friend Supa, until SailGP came around and I saw how excited and eager they were.

The year 2020 was the year that changed the world as we knew it, for a number of reasons, but for the Charman's sake, we're going to focus the Black Lives Matter movement and its correlation to Supa. On May 25th 2020, George Floyd died as a result of police brutality. Although this isn't the first and unfortunately not the last black man to be executed at the hands of law enforcement in the US, the murder of George Floyd Sparked global outrage and protests, which resulted in Bermudas very first BLM march. A proud moment for Bermuda to show solidarity and call out the systemic racism that continues to plague my island. It seemed as if what we all knew to be true was finally getting through to the rest of the globe, Black Lives do Matter. This includes Black Bermudian lives, who's talents and dreams deserve to be invested in.

SUPA tells a visual story of Bermudians contributions and presence in maritime history, and why it is important to invest in and support our young black boatsman just as much as we support the historically white yacht clubs and their sailors.