On Sunday evening, October 18th, my community gathered virtually to celebrate the 51st Anniversary of the Dedication of W. E. B. Du Bois' Homesite in Great Barrington as well as the renaming of the Great Barrington middle school after the civil rights icon. Unfortunately, before we even began, I experienced alongside my colleagues a racist Zoom bomb attack (an all too common federal crime), which I needed to navigate as facilitator and find our way to move on with our community celebration and reflection.
I will share my response to the impact of the incident and to the silence of my White colleagues that unfortunately followed, but for now, I do not want the intention of our gathering to in any way be lost or overshadowed by this incident. Please read my opening remarks from Sunday evening below and let’s turn again to honoring the brilliant W. E. B. Du Bois as well as our community’s organizing efforts this year and throughout the decades. Watch the video of the celebration here.
My Remarks
In 1903, W. E. B. Du Bois wrote:
“The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line... the question of how far differences of race... will hereafter be made the basis of denying to over half the world the right of sharing to their utmost ability the opportunities and privileges of modern civilization.”
john a. powell and Stephen Menendian of The Othering and Belonging Institute used Du Bois’ phrase to expand on this idea, writing: “The problem of the 21st century is the problem of ‘othering’” and “the only viable solution... is one involving inclusion and belongingness.”
When we think about the dedication of W. E. B. Du Bois homesite 51 years ago and the renaming of the Great Barrington middle school decision just weeks ago, what this holds for me is that our community has arrived to realizing the value of creating belongingness. We are continually shown the intentional lift and deliberate focus and practice required to dismantle the color line and its intentional design. Many voices, many hands, and many perspectives brought us here to these milestones. And I look forward to continuing to hear from the chorus of people—alongside the 300+ letters from September 2nd—who are joining this evening in reflection... all of us adding to the decades of voices, hands, and perspectives that have elevated and institutionalized the legacy of Dr. Du Bois in his hometown.
As john a. powell encourages us, we have to stop othering across color and other lines such as religion, gender, and class that are all man-made constructs and recognize that we can be and do much more organically. As humans, as natural beings, we can co-create a future that acknowledges our “interconnectedness.” There, I would venture, is where we will all find belonging, peace, and strength working collectively towards a future we want to live in as we just did with the renaming of Great Barrington’s middle school.
This work continues with a personal and cultural reckoning to face what we must face right now in our Country and in our County, which is ultimately a release of the 20th century color line and its many harmful impacts. I am grateful for Dr. Du Bois for the many readings and reflections he has given us that can guide us all—especially me since age 14 when I first heard Dr. Du Bois’ name. I am grateful to Du Bois for seeking knowledge and speaking truth to the dangers for the “others”, those of us inheriting a legacy of being the “other” in reference to the color line in US society. And I am so grateful to see each of you here this evening.
For those of you who don't know me, I am Gwendolyn VanSant, resident of Great Barrington and Vice Chair of Town of Great Barrington Du Bois Legacy Committee. I look forward to supporting this evening’s conversation. We hope to hear from everyone who wants to speak, and please note this will be broadcast live and recorded. If you do not choose to speak this evening, know that we will have several opportunities to continue this celebration and reflection. We have several members of the committee here who will help us structure the community time later on this evening.
Now it is my pleasure to introduce Reverend Sloan Letman IV.