OLD GRUMPY

December 1998 Table of Contents - Current Issue of The Abaco Journal - Abaco Bahamas' Home Page

OLD GRUMPY
[Our Curmudgeon-at-Large]

All the islands of The Bahamas with the exception of New Providence have traditionally been referred to as the Out Islands. When Freeport took a giant stride forward and was Floridadised, the reference became Nassau, Freeport and the Out Islands. The PLP government in the early 1970s decided Out Islands was a derogatory term and they became Family Islands for official purposes. What should our islands be called?

There is a romance to the Out Islands that Family Islands does not measure up to. I am sure that boaters always say, "We're cruising the Out Islands this winter" never "We're cruising the Family Islands..." For hundreds of years we have had Out Islands. Family Islands are relatively new.

The Out Island Promotion Board never did change its name, much as the United Negro College Fund or National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People never kept up with contemporary terminology. Good for them. The libretto of 'Old Man River', the song from Jerome Kern's 'Showboat', has undergone many changes over the years. To keep up with politically correct terminology the opening line should probably now be sung: "People of African-American Descent all work on the Mississippi..."

For years Bahamians were confused by the switch to Family Islands. Old timers never did change. They were born Out Island and intended to die Out Island. It's nice these days to here politicians say "Out Islands" without correcting themselves as if they'd inadvertently said a naughty word.

Family Islands, however, is not that bad a reference. Churches and community leaders particularly like it. And we all know what they mean.

So, if you are confused as to whether you are visiting the Out Islands or the Family Islands of The Bahamas, they're both the same places. I suggest you use the one which suits the occasion. I was always Out Island.

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