Swampscott Racial Justice Action Group

07/03/2026

“Today’s invitation is to listen,” said Silon Suron. “Not only to the brilliance of Frederick Douglass’ words but to the question they continue to ask us. The question isn’t simply what the Fourth of July meant in 1852. The question is whether we’re still willing to let the answers guide our conversations today.”

https://swampscotttides.org/news/attorney-general-campbell-frederick-douglass-fourth-of-july-speech-feels-more-urgent-than-ever/?fbclid=IwY2xjawS0kwZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA80MDk5NjI2MjMwODU2MDkAAR6MeJKtAqJNwUWlMhvnMirjhyrigX1s2Ju9xuQqfy_Z8sck8PL_WoCd-l0jFw_aem_-ePSFtdXaXK4H5UDkUBL9w

On July 5, 1852, abolitionist Frederick Douglass gave a speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” in Rochester, New York. In it, Douglass reflected on the liberties...

06/19/2026

Happy Juneteenth!

06/11/2026

Announcing a new resource on the MHS History Source: “War for the Dawnland: Reimagining King Philip’s War,” available online now: https://www.historysource.org/history-source-sets/dawnland-war

This set of primary sources for K-12 educators analyzes the conflict over land and power between Dawnland nations—including the Wampanoag, Narragansett, Nipmuc, and Wabanaki communities—and New England settlers 350 years ago from an Indigenous perspective.

According to Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, the Dawnland is “an Indigenous term for understanding the region known commonly as New England, as many Tribal Nations orient themselves towards the rising sun in the East and are referred to as the People of the Dawn or First Light.”

Even if you’re not an educator, dive into the resource to learn more about the war and related collections at the MHS.

06/05/2026

It would help if SPS would be more transparent and open about any DEIB efforts they are undertaking and show a willingness to be held accountable where they are lacking.

06/05/2026

Attempts to erase history are nothing new.

Some people think that only the parts of our history involving wealthy white men are important, but that is not the American story. OUR story is complex, multi-racial, multicultural, stretches back way before European colonists arrived, and certainly involves women fighting for what’s right even when poor excuses of men tried to tell them no.

It is up to us to discover the broader and more interesting stories of our history and point out when those are being erased.

06/02/2026

Juneteenth Celebration – Let Freedom Ring!
Join the community in honoring Juneteenth with an afternoon of culture, connection, and celebration!

Date: June 18, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: Town Hall Lawn

Enjoy:
Delicious food
Live music
Poetry
Local vendors
Inspiring speakers
🇺🇸 Flag raising ceremony
…and more!

This special event is presented by Swampscott Recreation in partnership with the North Shore Juneteenth Association Inc., METCO, and S.U.R.E Diversity.

Bring your friends, family, and neighbors all are welcome to celebrate freedom, history, and community together!

06/01/2026

Happy Pride Month!

05/26/2026

In Massachusetts, 292 of the 351 municipalities have a town form of governance. These towns are required to have at minimum an Annual Town Meeting where residents come together as the town’s legislative body to vote on the municipal budgets, approve or deny new legislation (i.e. by-law changes), approve specific projects, and a number of other essential duties. While it is popular to claim that this form of government, which predates the founding of our country, is the first instance of democracy practiced on these lands, the claim ignores the history of the Indigenous peoples that had well-established forms of democracy long before European colonists even showed up.

Most Town Meetings are “open,” meaning that any registered voter can show up and have their vote counted. However, in 1926, the state allowed “larger” (over 6,000 in population) towns to hold elections for Town Meeting Members, and though most towns declined to do so (e.g. Marblehead and Brookline), Swampscott chose to implement this new form of a representative Town Meeting Member body. Town Meetings in both forms have been critiqued in more recent history over how well they represent the broader population.

It is worth asking then: How well do the current Swampscott Town Meeting Members represent the general public today? ..

In Massachusetts, 292 of the 351 municipalities have a town form of governance. These towns are required to have at minimum an Annual Town…

05/25/2026

https://nicolefcarr.substack.com/p/the-racial-politics-behind-memorial?utm_medium=ios

In the wake of the Civil War, Black people created rituals for the modern Memorial Day remembrance. A Black studies professor's archival discovery corrected our historical record 100+ years later.

05/24/2026

This is a great event for all ages! You are encouraged to sign up to read a portion aloud! Scan the QR code below to sign up! Hope to see you there!