It seems to me that this is a moment when we need to stop being intimidated by all that is wrong. We need to notice when progress is made. We need to pay attention to the masses of people in country after country who are pushing for peace. Pay attention to the quiet results of hard work that show up in things big and small (thank you, VTA, for the new electric buses; thank you to the volunteers at the food banks; thank you to the Beach Befrienders). We should put our energies into cheering on all those who haven’t given up on the dream of a sane and sensible planet without violence to ourselves or the environment. And then we should use that hope and that gratitude to do good.
I was never prouder of our town than when our select board, at the urging of town administrator Jeffrey Madison, decided to officially fly the Pride flag on the pole at the Aquinnah Circle indefinitely. Jeffrey made a powerful statement to The MV Times about how, particularly in these contentious times, the community needed to express that all residents of the U.S. should have the same rights. He said that people need to stand up for those rights on a grassroots level. That flag speaks for our town government as a support for people who are often marginalized. It shouldn’t take courage to speak up like this, but it does, and our leaders have done so. Bravo. Let the flag fly.
On Saturday, July 20, from 11 am to 4 pm, flags of the U.S., the Wampanoag Tribe, and Pride will be flying over the 17th annual Native Artisan Market and Festival at the Aquinnah Circle. The day features live music, artist demonstrations, craftmaking, and the chance to see and purchase artwork. There will be over 20 native artisans selling beautiful goods, and there will be singing and interactive activities like cornhusk dollmaking. There is a rain date of July 21, just in case (which isn’t a bad idea, given how odd our weather has been).
The Aquinnah Cultural Center is also offering an author talk with Aquinnah Wampanoag author Victoria Wright, who will be discussing her latest book, “The Quiet Butterfly.” The conversation will take place on Monday, July 22, at 4 pm at the ACC. It’s free and open to all.
Meanwhile, at the Aquinnah library, the summer reading program for kids continues, with great prizes given to supplement the gifts the kids get from reading. For adults, the Library Book Group is meeting on Saturday, July 20, at 2 pm at the library to discuss Percival Everett’s book “Erasure.” The very next day, Sunday, July 21, Everett is appearing at the M.V. Performing Arts Center as part of the Martha’s Vineyard Author Series. I winced and cringed, roared with laughter, growled with anger, cried, and commiserated with the tensions of the writer and protagonist with this book. It’s a picture of racism and race and the publishing industry, told through the lens of a wry and funny intellect. If you get a chance to read this book before the Book Group meets and/or before Everett speaks, do so. If not, read it anyway.
On the birthday front, July 19 is Juli Vanderhoop’s birthday, and on July 24 it is Hugh Taylor’s day to celebrate. And aren’t we lucky to have them both in our town!
If you have any Aquinnah Town Column suggestions, email Kathie Olson, aquinnahcolumn@gmail.com.
