Swampscott Residents Can Sign Black History Month Proclamation

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Swampscott residents have the opportunity to sign the town's 2022 Black History Month proclamation approved at Wednesday night's Select Board meeting.

A link is available here to sign the proclamation electronically. Residents can also sign on through emailing Assistant Town Administrator Allie Fiske at afiske@swampscottma.gov.

"I want to share my appreciation for what the Swampscott Racial Justice group has been bringing forward," Swampscott Select Chair member Peter Spellios said during Wednesday's endorsement. "With prompting dialogue and with prompting change. And we need that. We need change and we need dialogue.

"Over the past 24 months, or I guess 12 months-plus, we've had some incidents in our town that I believe are unfinished business. I don't believe we've closed the circle on them. I don't believe we have found justice. I believe there's more and continuing difficult dialogue for our community to have to understand our role and what we can do to make Swampscott that community that Ralph (Edwards) spoke of in that proclamation."

Select Board Chair Polly Titcomb said 121 residents signed on in support of the proclamation in 2021 and that she hopes with more outreach that number will significantly increase this year.

The proclamation reads:

WHEREAS: February is Black History Month and we call upon the Citizens and Public and Local officials of the Town of Swampscott to honor the history and achievements of Black Americans and to reflect on the centuries of struggle that have brought us to this historic moment of time to live up to the founding principles of our Nation and the Town of Swampscott —that all people are created equal and have the right to be treated equally throughout their lives; and

WHEREAS: This observance affords a special opportunity to become more knowledgeable about Black heritage, and to honor Black citizens who have contributed to Swampscott’s economic, cultural, spiritual, and political development: and

WHEREAS: After the Civil War, Exodusters migrated from the South and settled in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; they brought with them the desire for economic opportunities, freedom from oppression and harassment, and freedom to create their own lives; these settlers played an important role in settling the State of Massachusetts and the Town of Swampscott, as well as the rest of the United States; and

WHEREAS: In 1915, Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson, noted Black scholar and son of former slaves founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, which was later renamed the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH); and

WHEREAS: Dr. Woodson initiated Black History Week, February 12, 1926; and for many years, the second week of February, chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, was celebrated by Black peoples in the United States, and

WHEREAS: In 1976, as part of the nation's bicentennial, Black History Week was expanded and became established as Black History Month, and is now celebrated all over North America, Canada and Europe; and

WHEREAS: While the observance of Black History Month calls our Town's attention to the continued need to battle racism and to build a society that lives up to its democratic ideals, this year's celebrations and recognition of Black History Month are especially significant as we reflect on the historic challenges facing our community and our Nation at this time; and

WHEREAS: We acknowledge that Black History is American History — stories and facts fully interwoven in the political, economic, cultural, scientific, and democratic fabric that make up our great Nation;

WHEREAS: The Town of Swampscott, continues to be anguished by the MURDER of George Floyd and it remains a shocking failure that many Black peoples, especially young Black men and women, are unfairly harassed and threatened and unjustly treated in our own community and country; and

WHEREAS: We are proud to celebrate Black History Month and pledge our continued commitment to build a welcoming community — one that reflects the full talents and diversity of the American people and that heralds many recent firsts, including Swampscott’s First Juneteenth Celebration, among other firsts in Town and Community that is committed to build a future that is inclusive and ready to confront deep racial inequities and the systemic racism that continue to plague our community and Nation; and

WHEREAS: The Town of Swampscott commits to doing everything in our power to demand that we all seek a greater understanding and implement changes to ensure that racism and the unjust treatment of any person is not tolerated in any way or form within the town of Swampscott.

WHEREAS: Swampscott Unites Respects Embraces (S.U.R.E) Diversity will host a Black History Month celebration — Black History is OUR History: A Town-wide Celebration of Poetry and Reflections - featuring Swampscott Poet Enzo Surin on February 28, 2022, on Zoom.

Now, Therefore, the Town of Swampscott hereby establishes that February 2022 to be: "Black History Month" in the Town of Swampscott, Massachusetts and encourage all faith-based and non-profit organizations, residents, businesses, civic and public institutions to acknowledge, honor, value and celebrate Black Citizens and celebrate our diverse heritage and culture and continue our efforts to create a world that is more just, peaceful and prosperous for all.

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