January 14th, 2022 / Nassau, The Bahamas

Small nation, tremendous talent

As the world celebrates the life and legacy of the late Sir Sidney Poitier, many are surprised to learn that the first Black man to win the Academy Award for Best Actor was a Bahamian.

In fact, The Bahamas has produced some of the world’s top talents despite being one of the smallest countries by population – estimated to be around 390,000 (Worldometer/UN, 2020), roughly equal to just 5% of New York City’s population.

Sir Sidney is a testament to Bahamians’ love for the arts and their ability to excel at it, not only winning that historical Oscar for which he is most remembered, but he was also the first Black man to be nominated for any acting Oscar. In addition, he captured two Golden Globes, a BAFTA, and even a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album. Other Bahamians were similarly pioneers for Black actors. Lincoln ‘Stepin Fetchit’ Perry was the first Black actor to earn $1 million and the first Black actor to receive featured screen credit in a film in the 1930s. The first Black man to have a lead role on Broadway and lead role in a film (“Darktown Jubilee,” 1914), is also credited to a Bahamian, Bert Williams. In pop culture, Bahamian actor Calvin Lockhart’s character as Biggie Smalls (“Let’s Do It Again,” 1975) was used by iconic rapper, Christopher Wallace, as his moniker, before a lawsuit forced him to change it to Notorious B.I.G.

More recently, three-time NBA champion, Ulrich ‘Rick’ Fox (Los Angeles Lakers), who shared the court with basketball superstars like Shaquille O’Neal and the late Kobe Bryant, was simultaneously an accomplished movie and television actor (“Meet the Browns,” “Oz”). Four-time Grammy Award winner, Leonard ‘Lenny’ Kravitz, has also dabbled in show business, though the lion’s share of acting accolades in his family goes to his mother and daughter, Roxie Roker (“The Jeffersons”) and Zoë Kravitz (“X-Men: First Class,” “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”), respectively. Roxie’s cousin, Albert ‘Al’ Roker, is a famed TV personality and journalist as well (“Today Show”). Other noteworthy celebrities of Bahamian descent include the late Michael K. Williams (“The Wire,” “12 Years a Slave”), Langston Fishburne (son of Laurence Fishburne, “Ant-Man and the Wasp”), Tia, Tamera, and Tahj Mowry (“Sister, Sister”), Shakara Ledard (Sports Illustrated magazine, “After the Sunset”), Persia White (“Girlfriends”), Esther Rolle (“Good Times”) and sisters Estelle Evans (“To Kill a Mockingbird,” 1962) and Rosanna Carter (“The Brother from Another Planet”).

Anyone who has experienced Junkanoo in The Bahamas, an annual street parade descended from the Christmastime celebrations of enslaved Africans, knows that music runs through every Bahamian’s veins. In addition to Kravitz, the father of 28-time Grammy award winner and one of the world’s best-selling recording artists, Beyoncé, is Bahamian. Another Bahamian musical act achieving global mainstream popularity is Baha Men, who won the Grammy for Best Dance Recording in 2000 for their hit, “Who Let the Dogs Out.” Before that, renowned drummer, John Berkely “Peanuts” Taylor, hypnotized the world with his rhythmic beats, especially when he opened for Nat King Cole (1956) and Bill Cosby’s show (1960). Television audiences were mesmerized by Peanuts during his performances on primetime programs including “The Johnny Carson Show.” Other musicians of Bahamian heritage include Beyoncé’s sister Solange Knowles, rapper Lil Duval, and Sebastian Bierk of heavy metal band Skid Row. Bierk’s brother, Zac, was also a former professional ice hockey player.

Notably, The Bahamas is the most successful country of all time at the Olympic Games, with the highest gold medal count per capita. This means that there is one Olympic medal for roughly every 25,000 Bahamians and one gold for every 50,000 Bahamians. For comparison, there is approximately one Olympic gold medal per 285,000 Americans.

The quality of Bahamian athleticism extends far beyond track and field and sailing, categories in which all Olympic medals were won. Their strength in sports is unsurpassed and one might say it’s even eerily unnatural. Look no further than André Deveaux, the first Bahamian professional ice hockey player, selected in the sixth-round of the 2002 NHL draft.

There are 27 Bahamian professional MLB players currently (1 in 15,000 Bahamians), including Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm, the Miami Marlins’ starting second baseman. This number does not take into consideration former players including Andre Rodgers, the first Bahamian to play in the major leagues (1957). Ex-pro players exert a heavy influence after their playing days are over, too. Antoan Richardson, who scored the walk-off winning run in the last game of hall-of-famer Derek Jeter’s career, is currently the first base coach for the San Francisco Giants.

It comes as no surprise that Bahamians have infiltrated other professional American sporting leagues, given The Bahamas’ proximity to the US and the extraordinary athletic caliber of its peoples. The first Bahamian to be drafted into the NFL was Edwin Smith by the Denver Broncos in 1973. Since then, there have been seven other Bahamians drafted, including his son, Alex Smith. Current players include Rashad Fenton, who won the Superbowl in his draft year with the Kansas City Chiefs (2019), and Michael Strachan (Indianapolis Colts).

Likewise, Bahamians also distinguished themselves as phenomenal basketball players. Mychal Thompson was the first Bahamian to win an NBA championship, winning back-to-back titles with the Los Angeles Lakers (1997-98). His son, Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors), won three NBA titles and is often credited as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history. Other Bahamians currently in the NBA include Deandre Ayton (Phoenix Suns), Chavano “Buddy” Hield (Sacramento Kings), Kai Jones (Charlotte Hornets), and Eric Gordon (Houston Rockets). In the WNBA, two-time All Star Jonquel Jones (Connecticut Sun) was named the 2021 MVP, becoming the first WNBA player ever to win the MVP, Sixth Woman of the Year, and Most Improved Player awards.

Other remarkable athletes hail from the literal fighting arena, including MMA fighter Yves Edwards, ranked as the 2004 number one Lightweight in the world. He is joined by Tureano Johnson (2015 WBC Silver Middleweight title), Edner Cherry, (ESPN’s Friday Night Fights 2006 Boxer of the Year), and the popular backyard brawler and internet sensation turned MMA Heavyweight and boxer, the late Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson, who the Rolling Stone magazine labeled as “The King of the Web Brawlers.”

Tennis is another popular sport played in The Bahamas and Bahamians made short work of climbing to the top of the global rankings. The world’s former number one in Doubles (2002-2005), Mark Knowles, won three Grand Slam Doubles and one Wimbledon Mixed Doubles with Yugoslavian-born Canadian, Daniel Nestor. His mother, Vicky Knowles, was the first female tennis pro in The Bahamas after emigrating from England. Mark joins Roger Smith in becoming the highest ATP-ranked players in Bahamian history, with career-highs at World Number 96 (Knowles) and 73 (Smith).

It’s not just about beauty and brawn for Bahamians, either. They are credited with significant contributions to the US civil rights movement, particularly William E.B. DuBois who was one of the founders of the NAACP and whose grandfather was born on Long Cay. Moreover, James W. Johnson was appointed the first Black person to serve as executive secretary of the NAACP (1920-30). He and his brother, John R. Johnson, wrote and composed, respectively, the so-called Negro National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” The Culmer Metrorail station in Miami is named in honor of Father John Culmer, a leader of the civil rights movement and minister of one of the most acclaimed congregations in the American South. Mary Athalie Range was the first Black person to serve on the Miami City Commission and first woman to head a Florida state agency. Also of note, from 1984-87, Donald Hopkins was the Deputy Director and Acting Director of the CDC, after which he served as faculty at Harvard School of Public Health and a consultant to the WHO.

What makes The Bahamas such an impressive incubator for success on the international stage? It cannot be coincidence that Bahamian heritage, dispersed all over the world, somehow finds its way to the top of so many industries despite originating from such a tiny population. There isn’t a more perfect embodiment of quality over quantity. We don’t know if it’s the special mix of sun, sand, and sea, or the small classroom sizes and structured academic curricula, or just the sheer resilience of the gene pool and spectacular cultural norms, but Bahamians are statistically destined for greatness.

Westend is a proudly Bahamian enterprise.

Almost all our employees, from the Developer to construction workers, to our local suppliers and contractors, are Bahamian. On a more holistic outlook, this also means that your investment recirculates within the country, supporting small-business owners and the Bahamian economy, so that we can continue to cultivate elite individuals every generation.

Whether you’re a local looking to support local, or a foreigner wanting to invest in a superior Bahamian product or move your family here so that you can integrate your kids into a wildly successful system, you ve found your home in Westend.