[Massplanners] Resources / Successful Examples on Addressing Microaggressions/Racist Language in Public Meetings

[Jeff Lacy]

Corrin:

Being careful not to also put my foot in mouth, was what he said not a ever a slur, but rather an outdated term? I’m thinking something like, “oriental.” I’ve been taken to task for this offense, and yet a Chinese-owned restaurant in Amherst recently opened as “Oriental Flavor.” 

Moreover, if clearly not intended as a slur, in fact positive, I think it’s best to leave this person’s vocabulary alone. If someone individually wishes to take it up with the person - fine.

I also think the “script” about how people must choose their words at meetings sounds like an overreach, too controlling, approaching censorship. 

Jeff Lacy
Rural Planning Associates 
(413) 230-9693

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 29, 2023, at 9:05 AM, Corrin Meise-Munns via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello all,
> 
> There was an incident at a public meeting I was staffing earlier this week where a Committee member used a (totally surprising, archaic, uncommon) racial slur to refer to residents of Asian descent. This person clearly did not understand that the term he used is offensive, and he was actually trying to make a positive point about how he is glad to see kids of all skin colors playing together at recess. 
> 
> Both the Chair and I were taken aback and the matter went unaddressed during the remainder of the conversation. We are now trying to strategize on two actions: 1. to send an email to the whole Committee acknowledging the event, and addressing it directly while trying not to shame the Committee member; and 2. develop a script to be read and agreed to at the start of each meeting that would set a standard for the type of language Committee members should use to refer to people, groups, ethnicities, etc. based on respect and inclusivity. (I am aware of the recent SJC decision re: the Southboro civility case.) No members of the public were in attendance so I don't personally feel that this one particular event needs to be addressed in a public venue.
> 
> Do you have any resources or examples you could share about how you have addressed events like this before? I would be interested in seeing anything related to either 1 or 2 -- and I am sure this information would help a few other communities out there as well! By the way -- we are in the process of setting up our inaugural DEI Committee (advisory to the Select Board), so while I hope that that body will have resources to share in the future, they have not yet formed. We are also kicking off an internal DEI strategic planning process this spring.
> 
> Corrin
> 
> -- 
> Corrin Meise-Munns (she/her)
> Assistant Town Manager / Director of Planning & Community Development
> Town of Longmeadow, MA
> (413) 565-4110
> -- 
> MassPlanners mailing list
> MassPlanners at masscptc.org
> http://masscptc.org/mailman/listinfo/massplanners_masscptc.org
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://masscptc.org/pipermail/massplanners_masscptc.org/attachments/20230329/4e5199a8/attachment.htm>