Bridging the Divides on Cape Cod

Cape Cod prides itself on welcoming visitors, but many people experience a different, less welcoming Cape.

Is there racism on Cape Cod?

24 May, 2024 - YARMOUTH MA - Advocacy organization No Place For Hate Barnstable says racism, intolerance and discrimination affect both our democracy at large and the Cape community specifically. To bring about change NPFHB convened two region-wide meetings this spring to gather State representatives, the District Attorney, advocates and the public to brainstorm new solutions.

"Across the US hate has really exploded, as has bigotry, and as it is happening across the country, it's happening here on Cape," says Eileen Elias, Chairperson of No Place For Hate Barnstable, which spearheaded two community meetings with advocacy groups from across the Cape, on April 28 and May 19. The sessions invited the public to share their experiences with intolerance, either personally as a bystander. Participants engaged in break-out discussion groups, brainstorming solutions for actions to bring about change and begin to bridge the region's often unspoken divides.

Is Cape Cod welcoming?

While Cape Cod can be a welcoming place, especially if you are a tourist,  there are many who experience a different Cape where they are discriminated and prejudiced against, said Elias. Cape Cod has diverse communities - LGBTQI, Jewish, Muslim, Christian, people who live with disabilities, people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds - but, Elias says, not everyone on Cape Cod is accepting of difference.

Co-presenter at the May 19 session in Yarmouth, Lynne Rhodes, President of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Cape Cod Branch, agrees. She said part of NAACP's mission is to educate people and bring equality and justice for all. She would like to see more collaborations on anti-hate advocacy as part of making change.

How can racism be countered?

The recommendations generated by the break-out groups were documented to form an action plan, which the groups hope can be part of a counter action to racism. NPFHB and their partners, in collaboration with schools, libraries and faith based organizations hope an outcome of the recenter meetings will be to to put the action plan to work. The most consistent recommendation from the groups was bystander training, something NPFHB already provides but is working on enhancing.  Bystander training helps people build a skill set to respond when they see acts of discrimination happening but may not be part of action themselves.