Swampscott 'Black History Is Our History' Event Planned For February

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Swampscott's S.U.R.E. Diversity organization is inviting North Shore residents to its Black History Is Our History program set for this month.

The Swampscott Unites, Respects and Embraces Diversity group will host the event on Feb. 27 at Swampscott High School at 6 p.m.

The program is set to include Swampscott poet Enzo Silon Surin, Dr. Nancy Schultz of the Swampscott Historical Commission, the Swampscott Middle School Chorus, the Lynn Museum, and the Swampscott String Quartet playing the music of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier, a French composer of African heritage.

The town, First Church UCC and Tzedek LaKol/Justice For All are co-sponsoring the event.

S.U.R.E. is in its eighth year after forming in 2016 amid racial and religious tensions on the North Shore. The group participated in the Marblehead Rally Against Hate in 2016 after antisemitic graffiti was found at Devereux Beach.

S.U.R.E. has supported events including the popular Map Of Our Ancestors, Creating a Village of Kindness, the High School Heritage Festivals, the annual town Pride Day and Juneteenth, discussions of prejudice and racism, and the film "Intelligent Lives" about intellectual disabilities in recent years.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)