Having a master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning is still not enough when you are the daughter of an immigrant in Revere.
It hasn’t been a month since the mayor of Revere declared racism a public health emergency. Hundreds of young generations of Revereans showed up at the City Hall under one same message: the lives of Blacks and immigrants’ matter.
A week later, a Muslim family woke up to find their car vandalized by swastikas, obscene language, and the message was clear: immigrants are not wanted in this city. While the police were trying to figure out who did this, people wondered if it was the idea of moving the Moroccan Festival into “desirable West Revere” that caused such rage among white residents, or it was just a crazy fanatic trying to be heard.
Between all the commotion, one thing was clear. Racism, xenophobia, and discrimination were out of control in a city with a 40 percent minority population who have no representation of any kind.
There is the immediate need for the reinstitution of the Human Rights Commission. But who should direct the Commission? Appointed by Mayor Brian Arrigo, Dimple Rana, a first generation Indian-American, was the perfect fit. She was witty, kind, and she already served as director of healthy initiatives. She is a leader who has supporters.
Throughout her life, Rana was bullied for being different and coming from a family that did not fit the standards of the “old White Revere.” She did not let this get in the way of her serving the city. She got educated and she even received a master’s degree in urban and environmental policy and planning from Tufts University to be sure she was qualified to serve, which she did, flawlessly.
She knew this was her time to serve and give back, not only with her professional experience, but also as a bullied minority and woman in Revere who dared to run for office in an immature city that can’t accept challengers.
The City Council voted against Dimple as Commission executive director. They said Rana was not qualified enough to hold the unpaid position. Only two councilors stood up for her – long-time friend, Steve Morabito, and Ira Novoselsky.
The council excuses were lame, even personal, including resentment that she has more education than many of them. Maybe they see her as a threat. Maybe they fear that she is also smarter. She is definitely more articulate than the women who told her “no” to her face, including one of her teachers.
As you can imagine in a city ruled by the old guard, it’s easy to hear the words, “How dare my student from the ‘hood even imagine that I will support her as the Director of Human Rights?” We can assume this was the thought process. But aren’t teachers supposed to support the students? Well, not in Revere.
And so the council circus continued with the “flawless, educated, representatives of Revere” questioning Rana’s character, her mood, her social media. Her supporters could only look at them in disbelief.
Sitting there were known racists that have appeared in the newspapers for their anti-Muslim comments, the teacher, the radicals, the cook who wants to win Latinos by cooking Latino food but who doesn’t care a bit about what happens with them as long as he gets a vote for mayor one day, the newcomer with the perfect white family.
Oh yes, they are all so perfect and felt entitled to put Rana down.
Councilors also questioned her education. Again, I ask, a master’s degree from Tufts in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning is not enough? We want someone with a “law degree,” they said unanimously. Of course, they are so knowledgeable about the law themselves, or at least that is what they think, that an unpaid position has to be directed by someone who has a law degree.
Seriously, Revere City Council? You are nothing but the new “Karen” of Massachusetts.
This is not about Dimple Rana’s character, education, background, appearance. This is about your microaggressions, it is about racism, and the worst part is, that it is coming from the same people who are supposed to represent and protect the city and its residents.
This is about ignorance and about not wanting to change the status quo. It is about preserving the “last name,” the “whiteness,” and the “white boys club.”
It is about the little opportunity that immigrants have in this city.
After all, in Revere, if you are a first-generation daughter of immigrants, having a master’s degree is worth nothing if you are not white enough or do not have the right kind of last name.
