'Stop this I am born here’ talk- Businessman & Author Don M. Martin
Mr Martin was at the time addressing a full house at the Rotary Club of Central Tortola’s dinner meeting on the upper flat of Pusser’s in Road Town, Tortola on Thursday, September 1, 2022.
“Stop this I am born here, who is born there, yada yada. Who really cares?
“Until we as a race understand that we need to be together instead of all this being apart we will never truly understand the reason why we are all here and living on this beautiful planet, this beautiful world,” Guest speaker Mr Martin stated.
‘Black Man White Industry’
Martin’s recently published book entitled ‘Black Man White Industry: My Journey through the men’s fashion world, is a story of a young black man arriving in an industry by accident in 1975, straight out of high school, and breaking all barriers.
It is described as a riveting story of Martin bonding with his white counterparts in the textile menswear business and tells how he became the only black man in the United States to form his own textile corporation.
While one might have expected the story to chronicle experiences on racism, systemic oppression and other related topics, Mr Martin previously told Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) his journey was quite the opposite.
“There’s nothing negative about… it’s a very simple and it’s a story about me and me traveling the world… and I had a tremendous following in the US in the south where racism was supposed to be very rampant and quite frankly, I never received it,” he added.
‘I see a lot of disturbing things’- Martin
Addressing Rotarians and invited guests on Thursday, Mr Martin said he has observed some discriminatory practices in the territory and urged its people to learn to live to work together in peace and harmony.
“I going to say one thing here and this may not be popular, but I am going to say it anyway. I am not a person that is concerned about what is popular or what’s not, I am concerned about what I think is right and what’s wrong.
“Here in the BVI and I have been here for about three years now, I live here half the time, and I must say that I have seen some things here that disturbs me among the people of the BVI, the people that live here, I see a lot of disturbing things. I don’t understand…In America I always preached about togetherness among the races and here I see a lot of people apart among the races and that disturbs me and the one thing I do understand is that when the slave ships came back in the 1700s and they dropped us off on these islands, my forefathers were dropped off here, my foremothers were dropped off here. They could have been dropped off on any island; Grenada, Antigua, it could have been any of those places.”
‘Caribbean as a people could be a force’
It was at that juncture Mr Martin called out the ‘who from here talk’ among Caribbean people in the Virgin Islands.
“The thing that disturbs me a little bit, it seems to be a distinction of which island we are from, and I think that we need to stop that, I really do.
“I think the Caribbean as a people could be a force if there is more togetherness among us and I think this is one thing I am going to be strongly advocating. I don’t like separation of people; I don’t like separation of humans.”
Mr Martin emphasised that the people of the VI need to get together as human beings and understand each other, including that their cultures are very similar.
“If I can say that black and white can live together, how can’t black and black live together? I will be a total hypocrite…. We have a lot of work to do in terms of working together and we can work together.”
The successful businessman and author, whose father is from Luck Hill, Tortola and his mom from North Sound, Virgin Gorda, said it is known worldwide that the seismic change in society and history was kind to the Virgin Islands.
“At this juncture, many, many years ago, my grandparents in Virgin Gorda couldn’t make a living here, so they had to go to different places … because there was nothing here for them to do.”
He said the VI now thrives economically, including because of the US dollar, but its fortunes could change suddenly.
“So I think that we all need to work together a bit more,” Mr Martin emphasised.
See related article:
Author with VI roots pens book on journey in ‘white’ fashion industry
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71 Responses to “'Stop this I am born here’ talk- Businessman & Author Don M. Martin”
I would never go to asia and tell them their way is inferior. I would respect that they are different and adapt to them not expect them to change for me. Bow instead of dap got it.
I’m a Caribbean individual with many other Caribbean brothers and sisters in my country back home
I don’t have to say I born there
I’d feel stupid even thinking Like that
Is BVI ppl with that crap u all quick say I barn here
Go from
Here
Get on Liat
Send them home etc
Stop trying look like the victim everybody knows and or been told that plus some may not say those words direct
But their actions toward us alone says it all
How many apply for status
Kids born here are considered where their parent from etc
While u rush to usa to born yours
Kids go school usa u won’t like them to send them back right ?
Or tell them they not from there take AA or Spirit and then ferry back over.
Gthoh
His experience and connections internationally is so valuable it cannot be understated. We should respect and thank the speaker for his important feedback as we perform our constitutional review! Take his account and feedback and change our constitution to include or Caribbean brothers and sisters.
Where a man born is where he is from? We were taught this in social studies growing up but i guess the bvi miss that part. For children who are not born to a virgin islander here have to go on their parents time and obtain passports from their parents country wherein they were never born there.
Confusing the poor kids.. Having to hear my children say they born in the bvi but have to be given another nationality until 18. #b*lls*** #corruption.
Black people come from different tribes as do Chinese and Japanese it's not all about color. It is unfortunate to hear that his experience among other races was smooth but with his own was difficult. These guys like white women and are very cocky.
The BVI dont just thrive because of the US Dollar there are alot of different factors. As they are many US cities that have the US dollar but are poor. As a black person its unfortunate when a black person pulls down his own to appease others. He should have used the opportunity to actually educate others how his success came about in some detail.
ABOUT BEING PROUD / EVERYONE IS SUPPOSED TO BE PROUD OF WHERE THEY GOME FROM , ( DUH ) AND NO THEY ARE NOT GOING TO STEAL YOUR PROUDNESS , MORE POWER TO YOU ,FOR CONFIRMING SOME OF WHAT THE MAN IS TALKING ABOUT ~ CONGRATULATIONS
? Just asking.
Funny thing is when you ask other people they will quickly tell you they are NOT from here while we are proud to be.
Before I close my eyes and ah fall asleep
I have to kneel down and say a prayer
When I look around at my sweet country
I thank father God for putting me here
A beautiful gem in de sunset
Visitors they never forget
The isles we call Nature’s Little Secrets
A Paradise I does be proud to call my home
Struggles we had to overcome
But with hard work and with perseverance
I proud to say we second to none
So open your eyes and you will see
Through all de bush and cactus tree
Mi BVI flag it standing tall, standing tall, standing tall
When dey does brag bout they roti
And say we don’t know how to party
Tell them they cant touch we fish water
And how we does fete down by Bomba
Their beaches better some try to say
You mussa never see Cane Garden Bay
Because of such beauty and splendor
CHORUS
Ah proud to say Ah born here, ah born here
Daughter of the soil Ah born here
These sweet Virgin Isles Ah born here
Ah so proud to say Ah so proud, Ah born here
2
Some jump on a plane
And say they need a change
To America trying to find a way
But in the winter you hear dem start to bawl
De hustle and bustle making dem pay
Dey start to miss Scato chicken
De salt fish from Crandalls Kitchen
Is only McDonalds and Burger king
Mi BVI flag ah does guard it with my heart
A symbol of love shining through de land
So when dey come try and to discredit me
For my country I have to take a stand
Rain forest and rivers you brag bout
When you see de Baths you’ll shut you mouth
I’ll hold my position without a doubt, any doubt, any doubt
Some times you does laugh at we culture
And how we say ‘meson’ and ‘aryah’
We economy tell you plainly
That we aint no Johnny come lately
Through trials and tribulations
We always find a way to come as one
My position, I will state it clear
Ah proud to say, Ah born here
CHORUS
3
De youth of today I want you to realize
A bright tomorrow is in your plan
You are the branches of our community
Ah legacy you must carry on
You must get a sound education
Drug pushers you must say no to them
Develop a strong love for your nation
I want to know that when I am dead and gone
The next generation will tell you clear
Whenever they question your integrity
Tell them firmly you born here
A land passed on by our heroes
They sweat and they toiled for many years
Dem old people story
Sometimes bring tears, dey bring tears, dey bring tears
So when they does call down we airport
Telling we that it too dam hot
Come to Road Town and you will see
It looking like New York City
To Anegada you must go
And see dem beautiful Flamingo
Just look around
And you will see why
Ah proud to say, Ah born here, Ah born here
CHORUS
Simple words of wisdom and we BVIslanders blow it up. WOW!
I don't give a $hit what strong VI roots you have, the matter of fact, if you had strong enough VI roots you would have echoed that BS
I wasn't born in the BVIs but I came here at a very young age ( early teens). I call the BVIs my home and say thanks for everything that it has done for me. Thank God. I am here in the BVIs over 40yrs.
I will like to ask those who have the gentle man up in arms for making that comment or even for want of a better word , making a suggestion,what have you done for this Country "? apart from saying " I BORN HERE'.
Remember this," ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country "?.
Saying that I am born here or I from here is not enough and will never be enough.
You know within the pass year or so I had conversations with born BVIs islanders within the age of 35 to 45 with most of their two parents from the BVIs and I ask them some questions about Tortola and to a lesser extent some other areas of the Bvi and you will not believe that they did not know the answers.
Although it is true that, that happens in any country but for the size of the BVIs the average is to too high for people knowing very little about their country but can only say " I born here"
After living here for over 40 years I can tell you that just as how the Great America wasn't built by the white Americans,the BVIs wasn't built and developed only by those of you saying" I born here"
I BORN HERE and PROUD of it!!! Not in the context off doing wrong and trying to be strong with it!
That’s not on the agenda. We need to stay as ignorant as we can and wear it with pride! We need more division and more hate among Caribbean people and people of all races! We need more intolerance and stupidness based on simple ideas fed into our minds by people manipulating us for their own gain!
I born here, and in my 60 years of life I have seen our people turn from caring, kind and tolerant to high on our own supply of patriotic stupidness and race prejudice. Some of these people now can’t take a man telling them not to hate. They have become addicted to the drug of patriotism because as we all know, CSC and esteemed friends, hating always leads to a better result.
Make the BVI Hate Again!
Guess what at the time a Baboon Heart was just transplanted into a human, so I wasted no time in telling him, yes, I understand you have your "Baboon Heart" (BH). Well a long story short, that was the end of the discussion. That is what is wrong with the expression Born Here or BH. When it is used in a derogatory manner and it should really be stopped according to Mr. Martin. We are all born somewhere and are proud of it but we should not use it as a tool of discrimination.
I've also heard the expression, I born here, and the other party says, yes, and you will die here and was ready for a fight. Thank God one was wiser that the other and walked away. Let us live peaceably with All men irrespective of where you were born. Amen
All over the globe coming to work etc India Africa Peru Venezuela Guyana Grenada St Vincent Jamaica Santo Domingo Columbia Chinese Philippine Lebanese and other parts of the Middle East Cuba the list goes on.
Certainly I have yet to hear any trini locals telling anyone of those nationals I
Born here etc
We go normal
We buy food clothes whatever they sell
We take them
To work for us etc
We go hospital where they work as doctors
Can we even I’ll speak or act out or try bully
hell no security will put our a$$ out the compound with that crap
These expats knows who is who & who born where don’t matter either.
Most nationals you’d know then by certain looks and or language
I can’t stand in the bank line and say I barn here soo I go in front
In fact locals here don’t even need to use those words we barn here as it’s obvious when u see one u know
Nothing is wrong if you all display you are from here but is the attitude you all have with it that’s what we speak of
Is not what u do but how u do it.
They use that as a way to bully us and or push fear into us
That’s all and then they say island man don’t like em.
You all does look down on us and like to make us feel like slab island is the worst and we ent worth nothing...
The man is saying we all in this together. Listen. He right.
I am an expat living here for 50 years and have heard people from other nationalties boast about where they are from after being evil to a BVIslander. A shilling has two sides.