Virgil, a Black man from St. Thomas, a part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, had just experienced classism growing up. Only after moving to the U.S. at 20 did the color of his skin come into question. In St. Thomas “we were never looked at because of our race,” he explains, “most of our leaders are black, they look just like me.” Even though Virgil experienced classism and racism separately, both are remnants of European colonialism.
When we think of what colonialism left us, racism usually comes to mind, not classism. But classism is as much a product of colonialism as racism is and can be equally harmful. In Virgil’s experience, it is the French in St. Thomas who benefited from their ancestors. “We call them ‘Frenchies,’ ” he says, “They are viewed as having a certain class above everybody else.” Though the French in particular never colonized Virgil’s birthplace outright, they did migrate from a French Caribbean island 130 miles to the south called St. Barthelemy (LA times). Virgil notes that, “they monopolized the fishing industry and have their own dedicated part of town.” Throughout generations, the French community benefited from their monopoly, creating class disparities. Virgil recognizes that “there is the other side which are the descendents of the slaves. They have to deal with a lot of the frustrations of being descendants of (slavery).”
The French didn’t limit themself to fishing. In Virgil’s experience, “(the French) have a certain amount of leverage, especially with people in positions of power. They look out for their community. What benefited one benefited the whole.” So, the French were able to stay at the top of the hierarchy by looking out for each other. In Virgil’s home town, classism tracing back to colonialism still exists to this day.
At the age of 20, Virgil moved to the U.S., settling in Idaho. When he first got there, “a lot of people said you have to be aware of your surroundings and who you interact with. I was advised not to go north of Boise, McCall, or Lewiston.” Consider the multiple ways that geographic constraint would affect Virgil. Could he look for a job in any of those areas? Could he risk stopping for gas? If his very movement was restricted, would it really be possible for him to have a public voice?
The reality of being a minority in today’s America hit Virgil hard. “Why is it this way?” he asks. “Back home you would have no limitations as to how far you could travel based on who you are.”
Classism and racism are still a reality throughout the Americas. Our colonial history has left a defined legacy, usually benefiting those with a certain heritage. Virgil’s experiences deserve to be heard and recognized as they show the reality of the world we live in. Hopefully we can learn from the past and eventually heal the long lasting wound of colonialism.