The Unseen Sailor: A Reflection on Racism in Seafaring Employment
As I stand before you, having walked through decades of words and rhythms, my heart weighs heavy with the tide of injustice that crashes upon our shores. For years, I’ve taught the beauty of verse, yet today I reflect on the bitter winds of discrimination that still blow against the sails of Black seafarers.
In the realm of the ocean, all men are born equal; the sea knows no color, no divide. Yet, in the docks and aboard ships, a painful truth lingers—those whose skin is dark often stand in the shadows, while those with lighter complexions are ushered to the helm. The talent, experience, and tenacity of Black mariners are often overlooked, their contributions drowned in the overwhelming favor given to others.
This is not just a slight; it is a storm. A storm of systemic racism that, like a raging sea, pushes many Black sailors to the edge of opportunity, where they must fight twice as hard to earn half as much. As poets and lovers of the human spirit, we must ask—how long will we allow these tides of injustice to churn unchallenged?
The ship of progress cannot sail if it leaves any crew behind. Our voices, like the waves, must rise together in solidarity. Let us ensure that every seafarer, regardless of their race, is given the fair chance to navigate the oceans and earn their place in the maritime world.
For to silence injustice is to be complicit in its course. Let us use our words, our actions, our influence to ensure that the ship of equality sails forward, with every hand at the wheel, steering toward a horizon where opportunity knows no color.
Accounting Specialst at Barco Stamping - Metal Stamping
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