North Shore Effort Cleanses Property Deeds of Racist Language

The Movement to Cleanse Historical Injustice

In a significant step toward racial equity, communities along Massachusetts' North Shore are embarking on a project to purge property deeds of their "dirty" past—specifically, the racist and discriminatory language embedded within them. This endeavor, led by the Southern Essex Registry of Deeds, aims to acknowledge and rectify decades of intentional harm encoded in legal documents.

Highlighting Discriminatory Language

The journey began with the identification of approximately 600 property deeds harboring racist language, unearthed with the help of nonprofit Harborlight Homes and the North Shore NAACP. Utilizing advanced algorithms, volunteers and students have sifted through records dating back to the early to mid-20th century, revealing clauses that once denied housing based on race, ethnicity, or religion.

One particularly chilling example comes from Nahant, where a deed states, "The premises shall not be owned or occupied by any person of Negro, Jewish, Italian, Greek, Polish or Armenian blood." Such stark language serves as a painful reminder of past injustices, and yet, the initiators of this project approach it as a healing opportunity.

Legislative Support: A Path to Change

State Senator Lydia Edwards has emerged as a key supporter of this campaign. Her legislative efforts aim to streamline the process for removing such archaic language across the Commonwealth. “Intentional harm demands acknowledgment and intentional repair,” Edwards articulated, stressing the need for reparative justice. Her push for the bill promises to generate new legal frameworks that facilitate the cleansing of discriminatory language from property records.

The Importance of Acknowledging History

Crucially, while removing these discriminatory phrases may seem like an obvious relief, it also comes with the responsibility of acknowledging their existence. Andrew DeFranza, executive director of Harborlight Homes, emphasizes the project's mission to record the historical context of these deeds. A proposed note will accompany each amended deed, preserving the truth of past injustices and fostering a fuller understanding of local histories.

Why This Matters for Community Healing

For residents and future generations, this initiative represents more than just a name change on old documents; it is a symbolic step towards healing the wounds of racism within communities. The attempt to address the past acknowledges the ongoing struggles against systemic inequality, and it seeks to ensure that such language does not perpetuate discrimination in the present and future.

Looking Ahead: Rethinking Community Standards

As the campaign to cleanse these deeds progresses, it serves as a broader reminder that community standards can and must evolve. By taking this action, North Shore communities not only confront their historical injustices but also pave the way for an inclusive environment where all individuals can thrive without the shadows of discrimination.

Let’s engage in the dialogue surrounding these necessary changes and promote a community dedicated to acknowledging history while striving for equality.