It came to the attention of the Martha’s Vineyard NAACP last week that a store in Vineyard Haven put up a racially offensive holiday display. Our organization as well as many of our Island neighbors and friends were repulsed.

It is never appropriate to display African Americans in ridiculing blackface.

A concerned shopper entered the store and demanded that the display be dismantled, and it was. We appreciate the actions she took.

We are asking that we all become concerned shoppers and report racially insensitive occurrences. Racism is not unique to the corners of Martha’s Vineyard, or the state or the nation. The important thing here is the willingness to speak up and then work to resolve the situation.

The MVNAACP will be working with Le Roux and anyone else who wants to identify, resolve and/or mediate such situations. Please join with us.

Erik Blake

Oak Bluffs

The writer is president of the MVNAACP.