SWAMPSCOTT — In a virtual community forum, residents discussed racial identity and elements of white supremacy culture that show up in their everyday lives in town.
The Thursday night meeting, led by the town’s critical partner in diversity, equity and inclusion Tamy-Feé Meneide, was a follow-up to another meeting held in December, and expanded on the foundations of anti-racism that participants in that forum discussed.
“When we think about our racial identity and whose history have we been taught, whose identities do we see represented all around us in our school system, in our representation in our police force, in our fire department all of that matters,” Meneide said. “That is sending a signal to each and every one of us about who matters and what matters and why they matter.”
In her presentation, Meneide explained that white supremacy culture shows up not just in its stereotypical, violent forms such as the KKK, but in the simple ways in which people interact with each other on a day-to-day basis. She used examples like perfectionism, defensiveness, fear of conflict, paternalism and the sense of a right to comfort as ways in which white supremacy culture pervades workplaces and communities.
Meneide encouraged participants to think about ways in which they could use more inclusive thinking and practices, such as by pushing transparency, collaboration, empathy, a willingness to be uncomfortable and realistic planning.
“In a growth mindset, there is a permission not to be perfect and to add the term ‘yet’ to whatever you’re thinking,” said one participant of this process. “‘I don’t know this yet.’ That allows you the ability to expand and let yourself learn so that you can further develop.”
Other participants noted that these elements of white supremacy culture show up in parenting, education, sports and other community relationships.
To make these changes, Meneide led the participants in discussing concrete ways in which Swampscott can take steps toward becoming a more anti-racist town. Some suggestions included hosting more accessible conversations, such as drop-in meetings at the Swampscott Farmers Market this summer, and allowing community members the opportunity to talk with police officers to rebuild trust. Other participants suggested that the school district should take steps to intentionally include anti-racist programming in its curriculum.
“Each and every one of us has the power and the wherewithal for this to happen in our lifetime,” Meneide said. “It’s not something we can put up on the shelf anymore and say the younger generation will handle it. It is our responsibility.”
