For the past month, thousands of residents across Massachusetts took to the streets protesting police brutality and calling for the justice of Black lives following the senseless killings of Ahmaud Aubrey, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd to name a few. Police brutality is the result of a system built to work against the very people it’s meant to serve and centuries of deep-seated racism. Local communities coming together to raise their voices amplifies the need for change in our justice system. But what impact do the deaths of these unarmed individuals in Georgia, Kentucky, and Minnesota have on our lives here in the Greater Boston area?

In order to understand the impact, we need to unpack the fundamental factor behind police brutality: systemic racism. For centuries, Black people in America have been the victims of slavery, segregation, and discrimination because of the color of their skin. These oppressive tactics were further imposed by the policing system throughout the east coast. Like Coronavirus, racism is a disease we, in Massachusetts and the Merrimack Valley, are not immune from. In our county, the majority of the population is white and non-Black people of color. Regardless of the frequency of our interactions with Black people, it is our responsibility as citizens of an increasingly globalized world to educate ourselves and our families and confront our implicit biases when it comes to justice and equality for minority communities.

Black people have served every racial group in America but it’s taken far too long for us to serve and support them. Looking back at our own nation’s road to freedom, they served in the American Revolutionary War. In the 1775 Battle of Lexington and Concord here in Massachusetts, Black people fought for us. Free and enslaved Blacks stood on American soil fighting for the freedom and independence of their white counterparts. Only 90 years later, was Slavery abolished. In 1965, the Immigration and Nationality Act, abolished the race-based immigration quota system. It’s the very reason so many of our families of color have been able to immigrate to America. After Jim Crow and nearly 90 years of segregation, Black people are still being profiled and killed because of the color of their skin while exercising, shopping, and sleeping in their own homes. White and non-Black Americans have the responsibility to stand up for them and actively dismantle the systems of racism and oppression in our state and in the

 

country. When our Black communities succeed, we all succeed. The Black community has been hurting for centuries and it is our responsibility to stand up and fight for their rights and justice. But what should we do to combat racism while at home?

Posting on social media is a way to share our thoughts but we must also take part in non-optical allyship. While at home, students and parents can read books written by black people, watch movies made by and featuring Black actors and actresses, and donate to organizations that support Black people. We can support organizations monetarily and through service in the Merrimack Valley. Most importantly, we must LISTEN to our Black counterparts. In order to truly combat a systemic issue like racism, we must listen to the stories and experiences of the people most affected by it and question our own actions that inadvertently stifle the movement.

Simultaneously, we must work to hold our local officials accountable. As of June 6th, some cities and towns in the Merrimack Valley have begun having conversations on the curriculum or community-wide programs but none have committed to a concrete plan. Though towns have communicated with police departments, they are only beginning to address the severity of the issues of racism and oppression. As our leaders begin the conversation between themselves, we as residents must advocate for the changes we want in our school systems and community spaces.

During the past couple of weeks I’ve called every town in the Merrimack Valley, and only a few have picked up calls or spoken to me about what they plan to do for combating racism in the town. It’s time we actively question our selectmen and town managers. It’s more than joining Facebook groups or retweeting #8cantwait. These strategies don’t address the fundamental issues of racism within policing and in our community’s fabric. Let’s challenge ourselves to think critically about how racism and race-based separations that occur due to opportunity and economic disparities in the Merrimack Valley. Let’s consider ways to combat these disparities and most importantly, let's VOTE. Vote for local leaders who rally for the values you believe in and who will take tangible action to solve the problems they speak about. It’s more than having a discussion amongst a council of five. We must take concrete actions about supporting communities of color and reducing financial and education disparities for Black students.

 

Real, lasting change begins in our local communities. Let’s seize this moment to be on the right side of history. Black people being murdered isn’t a political issue. It’s a human rights issue.

Regardless of your age, gender, or socioeconomic status, you can be an ally and fight for the justice of your fellow Black friends, family, and neighbors. Listen to the voices of those who are oppressed and open your heart to fight for justice because racism, unlike coronavirus, is a visible disease we can consciously work to end.