To the editor:

I truly despair when I read editorials such as Scott Fuller's scathing piece on June 23, as well as earlier letters to the editor in the Barrington Times on April 14, May 12 and May 19, which criticized the DEI committees' and community leaders' efforts in Barrington to promote understanding of  systemic racism. 

I convinced myself 30-plus years ago that the town in which I had chosen to live and raise my family, while not very diverse, was welcoming enough. Barrington's spoofy, elitist image in wider Rhode Island seemed unfair; in my experience, so many kind, generous and open-minded people live here. 

I continue to benefit from a very privileged life here. But the past five years or so have shown me that I will never be able to know enough about all the ways in which white privilege has shaped my life, the US, Rhode Island, and Barrington, nor about the myriad injustices marginalized people have endured for generations. Then, the unsettling events in town during the past year surrounding questions of racism, white supremacy, and political polarization gave me pause, indeed stunned me in their closeness to home. 

Now, it embarrasses and disheartens me to read scornful, sarcastic editorials directed at the people in Barrington who care enough to acknowledge that there is a problem here (as everywhere), and at educators who recognize it is critical to avoid the path of revising and whitewashing history for school children. 

Granted, it is a right to express one's view. Mine is that it feels like the old elitist caricature of Barrington feels uncomfortably present these days. I applaud every person involved in the smallest of efforts to acknowledge and address systemic racism in Barrington and — well, anywhere.

Cindy Capra

Barrington