I am a Wendell resident. I am writing to share my support for changing the Turners Falls High School mascot.

I attended the public meeting, and was moved by the authenticity of all speakers, from all perspectives. As a youth educator, I particularly appreciated that students spoke. At the same time, I heard several times the heartfelt sentiment that no one means for the mascot to be a racist symbol. The fact is, it is a symbol that perpetuates racism and the oppression of indigenous people. Racism is a blind spot for many people, myself included.

I am only just learning what systemic racism really is, how deeply ingrained it is in me and all of us, and how I can grow more aware of it in my day-to-day life. I am not calling anybody in Turners Falls racist. However, I do believe that even if someone does not overtly commit racist acts, they can still inadvertently perpetuate systems of racism. I perpetuate racism every time I buy “skin-colored Band-Aids.” Whose skin color? I perpetuate racism every time I turn off the radio and say, “Not another police shooting. I can’t handle this today.” I doubt communities of color, who are disproportionately affected by police brutality, can handle it, either. Only they can’t ignore it like I can.

Indigenous Americans were colonized, brutalized, and murdered by European settlers. Their scalps were collected as prizes, their heads and genitals removed from their dead bodies and displayed as war trophies. I know it’s grotesque, but it’s true. And when many indigenous people see a disembodied head on a sports jersey, what they see is their ancestors. They see themselves. Please, from the bottom and top and depth of my heart, I hope you can put yourselves in their position and see how this perpetuates the same racism that arrived with Columbus in 1492.

The mascot symbolizes to many of the residents of Turners Falls a tradition that they are proud of and that contributes to their sense of identity. The mascot symbolizes to many Native Americans their colonizers’ tradition of massacring and beheading their people. I think that Turners Falls residents are good people with good hearts. There has to be a way for residents to feel connected and proud without native community members feeling oppressed and violated. I urge you to find this middle path.

Cara Michelle Silverberg

Wendell