A call to action for our community

Mason County is a great place to live, work, and play. We are warm and welcoming people. We have miles of coast, trails, mountains and lakes for recreation. We have active and thriving small businesses with a variety of distinct fare and wonderful food. We also have differing opinions on social justice. I have witnessed and experienced instances of racism and discrimination in our community, and I believe that we can work together to create a more inclusive and welcoming community for all people.

It's not easy to admit, but the reality is that racism and discrimination exist in Mason County. We can try to pretend otherwise, but we can't ignore the experiences of our neighbors and fellow community members who have been on the receiving end. We can't ignore the fact that people of color face barriers in accessing services in our community such as quality education, adequate housing, financial stability and affordable health care.

As we acknowledge these challenges, we can take action to build a more equitable and just community. This starts with embracing the idea of antiracism, declaring ourselves antiracist, and committing to the hard work of examining our own biases and working to make our community a more welcoming place to more people.

First, it's important to define what antiracism is. Antiracism is a proactive approach to combating racist ideas and discriminatory practices. It involves acknowledging the existence of discrimination in our community and actively working to dismantle it. Antiracism is not just about opposing racism; it is about promoting equity and acceptance for more people in our community. By going a step beyond saying we hope racist ideas are not perpetuated in our community, and publicly declaring ourselves as antiracist, we demonstrate our commitment to creating a community that is free from discrimination and welcoming to more people.

One way to start embracing antiracism is by educating ourselves and others. We should have open and honest conversations about the concept of race and learning about the experiences of people of color in our community. We can do this by reading books, attending workshops and events, and listening to the stories of those affected by racist ideas or actions. By educating ourselves and others, we can better understand the ways in which racism and discrimination manifest in our community and take action to address them.

How do we take that next step in actively combatting discrimination in our community? We can start by acknowledging and addressing the ways in which discrimination has been perpetuated in the past, and how it manifests in our current ideas of others who look different than us. We can use that knowledge to encourage a sense of community where more people feel that they are welcomed and can thrive.

By embracing antiracism, we can actively promote equity and inclusion by learning the distinct challenges and experiences of people within our community. By recognizing the diverse perspectives and backgrounds of more members of our community, we can create a more welcoming place where more people have the opportunity to thrive.

By embracing antiracism, we can learn and move from "othering" to "belonging." Othering happens when individuals or groups are – often unconsciously – seen as separate and distinct from the norm or majority. Belonging happens when more people have equal say and equal access to opportunities and resources. Moving from othering to belonging involves recognizing that we all have a role to play in creating a community where more people feel valued and respected.

By embracing antiracism, we not only hold ourselves and our leaders accountable for positive and negative actions, but we also take proactive steps to address any harmful practices or policies that may have been perpetuated in the past. This intentional effort to create a more inclusive and welcoming community can lead to improved understanding, increased empathy and a stronger sense of unity among more members of our community.

By embracing antiracism, we can benefit our community's local economy by encouraging more people to participate in a diverse and thriving environment. When more people feel valued and respected, they are more likely to support local activities, events, and businesses, leading to more economic opportunities, a broader range of ideas and a stronger sense of community.

Another important aspect of embracing antiracism is recognizing and denouncing discrimination against all marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ people, women, people with disabilities, people from different socioeconomic backgrounds and more. Discrimination against any group is harmful, and by following the same steps outlined for embracing antiracism, we can recognize and denounce discrimination to other members of our community, allowing more people to thrive and feel welcomed. When we take a stand against all forms of discrimination, we create a more inclusive and equitable community for everyone.

We each can embrace antiracism and do our part to help make our community more equitable and welcoming. However, becoming an antiracist community requires more than just individual actions. It requires systemic change. We need to advocate for policies and practices that promote equity and inclusion in our community, such as increasing diversity in leadership positions, ensuring equitable access to education and health care, and promoting economic opportunities for more members of our community.

This process involves everyone, including me. As a white person, I recognize my privilege and the ability I have to support and amplify diverse voices in our community. Voices of color, voices of women, voices of fellow LGBTQ+ individuals and voices of intersecting diversity. I am committed to listening to and learning from diverse experiences and using my privilege to advocate for change. I am publicly declaring myself as antiracist and inviting my fellow community members to join me in declaring themselves as antiracist too.

Some might argue that racism and discrimination do not exist in our community, or that becoming more diverse and welcoming will harm the small-town feel of our community. However, ignoring the existence of racism and discrimination in our community only perpetuates it. By becoming an antiracist community, we can create a safer and more inclusive environment for more members of our community, regardless of ethnicity or identity. Additionally, welcoming diversity can bring new ideas, perspectives, and economic opportunities to our community, enhancing our quality of life.

We cannot change the past, but we can take action to create a better future. Embracing antiracism individually and as a community requires us to acknowledge the existence of racism and discrimination in our community, and to take action to address it. Let's come together to create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for more members of our community. Let's embrace antiracism and work toward a better future for all.

■ Billy Thomas is a local community leader and advocate. He serves as the director of marketing at Peninsula Credit Union, board chair at the Shelton Family YMCA, board vice chair at Sound Learning, and board member at Mason General Hospital Foundation.