An AB Student Speaks Out

AB Colonial Mascot Supporters Were Silenced

The following two statements were submitted and read aloud at the AB School Committee meeting on November 18,2021.

By Julia, an AB Student

I’m speaking on behalf of the AB Colonial Mascot Supporters, especially those who have been silenced by ABSEJ (AB Students for Equity and Justice) and their supporters, and certain staff members. I was one of those who faced multiple negative messages on my social media, calling me names, such as racist, white privilege, white supremacist, all things which my friends would tell you I am far from. All because I posted a “Save the Colonials” Petition. Most of them didn’t even know me. They wanted me to take down my petition post… but I didn’t. The day I posted my petition, I became a target for bullying. I feel as though the school committee and Mr. Light, the ones we trust to keep us safe, failed us when they took sides. Now our whole school has become divided, far from the AB united I was told we would be at the beginning of this freshman year.

 

Later, I became part of the AB cheer team. I found out that many of my teammates faced similar bullying over their efforts to save the Colonial. And from the same culprits that harassed me. As the season began, the athletic director told us to stop using colonial in the cheers. Strange to hear when we are still wearing uniforms that say Colonial on them. He threatened that there would be consequences if we cheered colonial again. We feared he would not let us compete, and we worked too hard to risk it…he broke our spirit, silenced again. Soon after, the boosters presented us with Colonial t-shirts. Mr. Martin tried to keep us from getting them, but the boosters fought for us to have them. He caved in but told us that we couldn’t wear them to school during our season. I didn’t feel this was right and neither did my parents. It wasn’t in the student handbook dress code. My mom contacted Mr. Light to tell him about this, but he backed up Mr. Martin.  Our freedom of expression was taken away.

 

I still believe the mascot represents all of us here today. I am a proud American, and my ancestors from Italy were not as lucky to have the freedoms and privileges we have today. It wasn’t easy to leave their homeland, but they came here to give us a better life.  They embraced and respected this land, its people, it’s history. We were grateful to be here.

 

There may be different associations with the word Colonial, as colonials were here in this very land from 1607 to 1776.  But our Colonial Mascot was named for our 3 courageous Acton colonials, as well as a fifer from Boxborough. They were ordinary people, a gunsmith, a school master, 2 musicians who all lost their lives on April 19th, 1775 on their quest for independence from their oppressor. I don’t think we can find a name that suits us better. A white male colonial may not represent my physical appearance either but when I looked at our mascot, I didn’t see color, gender, or a time period. I saw our very own local fallen heroes. I saw courage & sacrifice. I saw hope and liberty.  I honored them for their roles in helping start one of the greatest countries. A place my ancestors could come to and be free.

-Thank you for listening

 

AB Colonial Mascot Supporters Were Silenced — Part 2

By Lucy, A Mom of an AB Student

I am a MOM Of an AB Student Speaking about The Mascot Removal Aftermath

I think about how different things could have been if the Mascot issue was approached in another manner, the What if’s?? come to my mind

When ABSEJ petitioned to change the Mascot, 

What if our Superintendent didn’t show that he favored removing our Mascot, but stayed neutral? 

What if the families in our school district weren’t accused of being racist in an email?

Could we have set a better example to teach our children not to be quick to judge others?

What if we addressed the bullying of our students after the petitions came out?

We all knew it was happening, but the administration and school board chose to look the other way. Now the bullies are being rewarded by being involved in the mascot renaming process.

What if the school had offered educational discussions regarding the Colonial Mascot, maybe even inviting a speaker to teach our town history? It may have helped families understand that 60 years ago, when our school mascot was named, it wasn’t about racism or colonization, but about honoring our fallen heroes.

What if we didn’t leave this vote up to our school committee? What if there had been a town vote and all the voices could have been represented? Imagine if all the students and community were part of the process. Things could have been so different. Instead, our mascot was just taken away, during the early part of an anxiety filled pandemic. And we had no say. We were proud of where we lived, we were a part of history. But clearly the new residents moving to our town didn’t know how important our history was to us. Maybe we failed to teach them.

ABSEJ, you may have won the school committee vote to remove our Colonial mascot.

So now, it’s time to think about what you have really gained?

Division in your school. Division in the community. And now divided from the AB Alumni.

Has removing the mascot created more happiness, more friendships, more acceptance in this school?

-Feeling a sense of inclusion doesn’t come from taking a mascot away. 

And it won’t come with renaming your Mascot either.

-Acceptance isn’t gained through bullying others who disagree with you.

We need to respect everyone’s views.

-You accused Mascot supporters of being racist, a very hurtful device meant to silence them. It’s not okay to make up false racial narratives for your own personal gain. Misuse of the word racism is very damaging. Especially to those who embraced all people of different backgrounds…like my daughter

 -You profiled Mascot supporters as “white privilege, white athletes, white males/girls.”

They were packaged based on a race, a gender, or group. This is so divisive. We are individuals, each with our own unique characteristics. The colonials were also individuals and you labeled them as if they were a group, all “the same” kind of people.

Being a part of ABSEJ doesn’t make you morally superior and in the place to judge others around you. Shaming of any race or gender, should be against what ABSEJ stands for…where is the equality and justice in this? 

I too have zero tolerance for racism but remember that we can’t fight racism with hate. We can fight it with kindness. Just be kind and positive change will come. Let us come together. Let’s respect everyone.           

-Thank you for listening

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