Reflections during Black History Month

On January 7, 2023, five Memphis police officers beat Tyre Nichols after a traffic stop. He was eventually brought to the hospital where he died three days later. Most of us have seen the video, or at least parts of it, if we could stomach watching it. This was just one more in a long list of unarmed black men who lost their lives at the hands of the police.

Christine Smith

Systemic racism is built into the fabric of our country and until we as a country address it, we will continue to experience these traumatic events. The fact that the five police officers, as well as the chief of police, are also black does not mean that this incident was not the result of systemic racism.

The Cambridge English dictionary defines systemic racism as “policies and practices that exist throughout a whole society or organization, and that result in and support a continued unfair advantage to some people and unfair or harmful treatment of others based on race.” From the start of our country where Native American people were kicked off their land, continuing through the evil of slavery and the Jim Crow era and beyond, systemic racism has been baked into American culture.

The passage of the Civil Rights Act, election of the first black president, the first black vice president, black governors, black senators or hiring of black police officers, while all laudable achievements, cannot erase systemic racism. Furthermore, erasing this history from curriculum cannot erase the history itself.

President Joe Biden noted in his recent State of the Union address that he never had to have “the talk” with his children that black parents have to have with theirs. And neither have I. What does it say about our country that our black and brown parents need to have specific conversations with their kids to ensure that they come back home alive?

By all accounts, the Canton Police Department is well run and has policies in place to avoid the situation that happened in Memphis. Our police chief, Helena Rafferty, is a member of and supports the work of the Canton Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee and is committed to carrying out its mission and ideals.

And while that is all very good, it does not mean that systemic racism is not built into the culture here in Canton as it is in the rest of the country. For example, the town boards and committees here in Canton, both elected and appointed, do not reflect the diversity of the residents in town.

A few years back I asked candidates for Select Board at a candidate forum what their plan was to bring more diversity to the membership and leadership of Canton’s boards and committees. The general opinion was, “Well, we publicize these vacancies and if diverse residents do not apply, there is not much we can do.” That is not an acceptable answer. And while I do not have all the answers, I do think an examination of historic policies and practices in town that give an advantage to one group over another is a good first start.

As I write this I can almost hear the rebuttal letters being written, claiming that talking about systemic racism and diversity only divides us. After all, we are all people, all residents of Canton and we should not see color, right? Misguided thinking like that is actually what divides us. Ignoring history and truth is what divides us. What unites us is learning about our neighbors who may have different backgrounds from us.

It is hard to understand someone else’s experience without knowing them and hearing their story. Diverse leadership also leads to better decision-making, which is better for everyone who lives or works in Canton.

I recently took a Peloton ride that focused on Black History Month. At the end of the ride, the instructor said something that struck me: “The only way to commit to diversity is to diversify your consumption.”

Diversify your consumption of music, food, art, literature, news and more. It does not mean you need to give up your old favorites, but if you expand your horizons, you can learn more about others, perhaps find a new favorite and gain a better understanding of those with different backgrounds. Diversifying your consumption brings us all closer together.

We are fortunate in Canton that we have a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. They offer many events throughout the year that allow us all to diversify our consumption. This month they are holding their third annual Black History Month celebration on Tuesday, February 28 at the Canton Public Library. Consider attending, especially if you have never attended one of their events before. One small step toward diversifying your consumption could be one small step towards improving our community right here in Canton.

Christine Smith is a mother of three, an attorney and longtime Canton resident.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=104306

Posted by Christine Smith on Feb 17 2023. Filed under Featured Content, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.