Page 37 - BLACK HISTORY IN BERMUDA red

Frederick Shirley Furbert • (1911-1975)

F.S. Furbert was the first Bermudian principal of The Berkeley Institute, the main high
school for black Bermudians during segregation. He was appointed in 1943 and was
principal for 28 years. A Berkeley graduate himself, he attended the University of
London, Oxford and the Sorbonne in Paris to gain degrees in education.
Furbert dispelled the myth that teachers, especially head teachers, had to be imported
from outside Bermuda. When he became principal, he promised not to do great
things, but to do the small things that lead to greatness.
He hoped to bridge the gap between the races. However, The Berkeley Institute courtesy berkeley institute
student body was not integrated. White students were welcomed at The Berkeley
Institute, but white parents were not interested.
Furbert was key in the school’s expansion. Student enrollment almost doubled under
him and eight new properties were acquired, enabling the school’s physical plant to be
increased. After he retired from the school, he earned a Master’s Degree in French and
joined the Ministry of Education.

Dr. Edgar Fitzgerald Gordon • (1895-1955)

Some years later, after working in of Assembly, and drew up a petition
Trinidad and Dominica, Dr Gordon was calling for the British government
offered a medical practice in Somerset to investigate how poorly black and
and came to Bermuda with his family, working class Bermudians were
this time permanently. treated. Dr Gordon personally took
the petition to London.
courtesy bermuda biographies racism he encountered and the power introduction of free primary school
Dr Gordon loved Bermuda’s beauty and
One result of the petition was the
its people, but he was shocked by the
education, which came about following
that a small group of wealthy white
men had over the rest of the people.
the passage of a law in 1949. Soon after
He soon became involved in campaigns
formed, and continues to be Bermuda’s
to make Bermuda fairer for all people that, the Bermuda Industrial Union was
Dr. E. F. Gordon was one of Bermuda’s largest trade union to this day. As a
and to end the system of segregation.
most controversial and important Member of Parliament, Dr. Gordon
leaders in 20th century Bermuda, Dr Gordon’s first successes came in constantly challenged segregation and
setting the foundation for reforms the field of labour relations, when social and political inequities in all
and political changes that would he became the first president of walks of life. He died in 1955 at the age
come after his death. the Bermuda Worker’s Association, of 60. Many tributes were made to him,
which was formed after workers and his spirit lived on in Bermuda.
Born in Trinidad, Dr Gordon went to the building the United States Naval Base
University of Edinburgh in Scotland to in Southampton during the Second Dr. Gordon, who sometimes used
study medicine – although his first love World War – now Morgan’s Point – the name “Mazumbo”, was often
had been cricket. He completed his had their pay cut. controversial and accused of
medical studies in 1918 and returned to arrogance, but his tireless efforts to
the Caribbean after working in Scotland By 1946, under Dr Gordon’s leadership, bring about change in Bermuda had
for a time. On his way home, the ship the BWA had 5,000 members. In the a permanent impact on Bermuda’s
Dr Gordon was on stopped in Bermuda. same year, he was elected to the House political and working life.

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