February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate and a time to remember sacrifices made as well as challenges overcome and those still pending.
It has been said that, when something bad happens, oftentimes something good can come out of that negative experience. No experience amplifies that point more clearly than the experience that John Excellent suffered through. On February 8, Excellent gave opening remarks at Tri-Town Against Racism’s Black History Month Creative Expressions Contest 2026. He told of a brutal attack he suffered and the subsequent search to find meaning in that horrific moment.
Sometime later he found TTAR. He shared that, rather than dwell on that horror, he sought a venue of likeminded citizens coming together for positive change.
TTAR began with a group of mothers whose children had experienced racism. They strove towards bringing such issues to a wider audience in the hope that all people, all races, all genders and gender identifications would have a voice. From their website, “Tri-Town Against Racism is dedicated to defending our community against racism through education, positive communication, and amplifying the voices of those impacted.”
One of the many programs developed by TTAR is an annual art contest, now in its sixth year. Art produced by school-aged children (from first grade to 12th) shared their vision of inclusivity, positivity, and the power of art. The Mattapoisett Free Public Library hosted the exhibit, which includes art from some 30 junior and senior students from Old Rochester Regional Junior High School and ORRHS who submitted meaningful works.
The older students used a collage-style format to blend art with examples of what specific leaders have accomplished in their lifetime.
Many of the young artists selected civil-rights leaders focusing on the impact of these leaders for what has become a monumental movement for equality and inclusivity in our nation. The young artists also understand the struggle is not over as was evident in their artworks.
Returning to points made by Excellent previously, he urged local citizens to start change “where you live.” From its 2020 start, TTAR has been doing just that with programs geared towards the youth in the communities.
Winners were selected from the junior and senior classes. The 2026 winners are Noah Santos, Kenna Thompson, Jacoby Santos, Alex Amaral, and honorable mention, Mathew Crain.
The exhibit featuring creative works may be viewed through March 1 at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library. To learn more about TTAR, you can visit tritownagainstracism.org.
Tri-Town Against Racism
By Marilou Newell