Recently a neighbor here in Shelter Bay, a person of color, told us that he was out for a walk in the community when a white stranger accosted him to ask what he was doing there. The stranger told our neighbor that he didn’t look like anyone who lived in the community, and then the stranger demanded that our neighbor account for himself.

We are infuriated and embarrassed to learn that an apparently out-and-proud racist is despoiling our beautiful neighborhood, and we refuse to tolerate it quietly. More importantly than what it might do to property values to become known as a place where racists can feel at home, it is our shared responsibility as Americans to be utterly intolerant of racism in all of its rancid forms, from racist personal behaviors to the racism in our bureaucratic systems, which impact everyone.

It is way past time to move toward that “more perfect union” the Founders referred to. Clearly, there is plenty of room for improvement right here. Again, to our neighbor: We are so very sorry that you were harassed in your own neighborhood.

Neil and Christine Hill

Shelter Bay