Page 58 - BLACK HISTORY IN BERMUDA red

Partner Skit: Meet Sir Edward Richards

Richards: Hello, I’m Sir Edward Richards, have you heard about me?

Student: Yes I have! You were an influential politician and the first Premier of
Bermuda. And I’m pretty sure you got knighted.

Richards: What gave it away? Anyway, that’s right. I was the first black Bermudian
to be knighted and to become a magistrate as well. I fought for civil
rights, and I did it peacefully.

Student: That’s really cool. But are you a real Bermudian?

Richards: Yes I am. Though I was born in Guyana and although I only came to teach
maths at The Berkeley Institute, I became a Bermudian citizen seven years
after arriving. After all, you became a Bermudian by accident, I became
one by choice!

Student: You became an icon that led Bermuda into a new age. You are incredible
Sir Edward.

Assessment Indicator: Make a collage of everything about Sir Edward Richards. Try to
include all the facts you have learned.

Partner Skit: Meet Gina Swainson

Swainson: Hello, I’m Gina Swainson, have you heard about me?

Student: Yes I have! You were the Miss World’s Winner and came second in the
Miss Universe Pageant.

Swainson: That’s correct. It is very uncommon to do well in both, but I did so in
1979, at only 21 years old!

Student: Did Bermuda do anything special for you?

Swainson: I had a parade back home and also got some postage stamps with me on
them! How cool is that?

Student: Did you do anything else?

Swainson: When I returned, I opened a make-up business on Front Street: Gina of
Bermuda. Now I live in England though.

Student Wow. Sounds like you were a role model for young women about healthy
lifestyles and an idol for many.

58 | black history in bermuda | bermuda national trust