Yesterday the Minister of Labour, Community Affairs and Sports the Hon. Lovitta Foggo JP MP attended an emancipation forum entitled, “Through a Glass Darkly: Black Bermudians in Media”organized by the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs (photographs attached).
One of the primary objectives of the forum was to look at how media has shaped how Black Bermudians were viewed and viewed themselves.
Panelists included Mr. Glenn A. Blakeney Sr., JP, Mr. Qian Dickinson and Dr. Dana Selassie. The forum was held in honour of Mr. Montague Egbert Sheppard for the pioneering role that he played in the arena of radio and television broadcasting.
Minister Foggo delivered welcome remarks at the forum.
"Mr. Sheppard’s impact on television in Bermuda in the mid-1950s and the 1960s was profound," Minister Foggo said. "The social, political and economic order which prevailed in Bermuda at that time was very different from that of today. We lived in a society that was dominated by racism and sanctioned segregation.
"Despite the odds being stacked against him, Mr Sheppard’s Capital Broadcasting Companyestablished a niche in the arena of public broadcasting that was prolific, unparalleled and unprecedented in the history of public broadcasting in Bermuda. Not only was Capital Broadcasting the first broadcasting company to introduce the production of colour television into Bermuda, it was also the first to secure an affiliation with one of the major three television networks in the United States - the ABC Network. According to Historian Ira Philip, Capital Broadcasting Company was the first enterprise to be owned, controlled and operated by black people in the western hemisphere. It should also be stressed that Capital Broadcasting was instrumental in training local Bermudian talent…talent which still graces our airwaves today."
Minister Foggo presented Mr. Sheppard with a plaque, on behalf of the Department, honouring him for the incredible work that he has done in our community.