Growing up, I always knew I lived somewhere different. My transition from Brooklyn to Long Island was overwhelmingly different, even through the eyes of a 5-year-old. Mind you, this is ‘95 Brooklyn, BG (before gentrification.) My mother and I made ourselves a home on the East End of Long Island where I took swimming lessons in the bay and the ocean, my friends and I rode bikes through old railroad trails in the woods and wildlife was so common that it didn’t even phase you that a deer or a turkey was camped out in your backyard.
It wasn’t until I got older that I realized what the different part actually was. We were living in a tourist area, where people traveled for miles to get a taste of The Hamptons during the summer, giving it the reputation of “a playground for the rich and famous.” What most people didn’t realize was there was an entire community of locals that lived here outside of that glorified period between Memorial Day and Labor Day. You had families of all races, natives from the Shinnecock Reservation, fishermen, farmers, teachers, businessmen, landscapers, etc. And even with all these different lifestyles, racism and classism existed at an all time high.
When you tell them where you’re from and they ask, “the Hamptons has black people?” you cringe because the black history runs rich and deep. The most hurtful part is the racism we continue to deal with on a daily basis, reminding us that no matter how pretty the picture is, people will continue to bring the ugly.
Recently, Valerie Smith, who considers herself a “pioneer” to the area, has been making noise because she is running for the Southampton Village Board in the June 16 election. A pioneer? On the board? Perfect. Except some audio has leaked of the woman using racial slur when referring to a group of black men in the Southampton Hillcrest neighborhood. Did I mention that Valerie is white?
Photo: popkey
According to the Southampton Press, Smith confirmed that she made the call last summer and tried to justify using the n-word several times throughout the call. The call was made at 6:17 p.m. on August 5, 2016, where she reported that there were “a bunch of niggers” standing in front of her house, drinking Hennessy. Smith told the press that her using the racial slur was no big deal and she should be entitled to use it whenever she wants. She suggested that watching Eddie Murphy stand-ups and growing up watching All in the Family gave her enough reason.
“Now all of a sudden, I can’t use it?” Smith said in a phone interview with the Press. “Sorry — I live in a black neighborhood. I came here and didn’t see color.”
Photo: Giphy
She went on to state that she purchased the home in the largely African-American neighborhood nearly six years ago and converted a “rodent-infested” dump into something beautiful. “When you are a pioneer, like I am, it’s not easy. I’m the only white person who owns and lives on the street.”
Southampton Village Police Department Lieutenant Chris Wetter said that over the past six years, Ms. Smith has called the police department between 100 and 200 times. Most of the complaints were about litter, noise, illegal parking and public drinking.
“I am entitled to peace and quiet and enjoyment in my residence,” said Ms. Smith, who said she now sleeps in her basement because she can’t sleep in her bedroom when the noise outside is loud. “That’s why I’m running for trustee,” Ms. Smith said. “This neighborhood needs help.”
Lawd. People like Valerie Smith loves to move into neighborhoods that are FILLED with people that don’t look, live or have a culture that they’re used to and try to make it something it’s not. We see the same thing happening in Brooklyn, The Bronx and Harlem. Instead of adapting the culture that is already there, these people come in with their white privilege and mentality that we need saving, we need changes and we need them. Which allows them to speak to people who have been in the neighborhoods since day one any way they see fit.
Sorry Valerie, but you’re not a pioneer anywhere. We don’t even know you. You’re going to gain a reputation for being a flat out racist and we’ll do our best to make sure you never get a spot on that trustee board.
