Is Boston racist?!?!?!? (Springfield, Amherst, Franklin: rent, school, art)

[RuralCoastalGuy]

Not any more than any other metro area. Remember there are areas where racism is by other ethnic groups (black, hispanic, oriental, arab) against whites. People always think of racism as whites being against everyone else. I found that folks in Boston, as is the case in all of New England, tend to stay with their own ethnic origins and some even consider that pride in their ancestry. Little babies are not born racist no matter who their parents are...it is the parentage and peer pressure that teaches racism and fosters it among youngsters. I now live down south...enough said?

[GoSox07]

Actually I just watched a TV show about increased gang violence in Los Angeles between Hispanic and African American gangs as many Hispanic gangs are attempting to drive African Americans out of the city by targeting black citizens whether they are gang members or not. LA's African American population has dropped from 12% in the 2000 census to 8% by 2005. This is not to knock LA at all which is such an amazing city, but I am simply emphasizing the point that racism in Boston is in no way worse than in any other part of the country.

P.S. -- Boston's black population is at 25% (I think it was actually up to 28% by 2007) which is obviously a much higher percentage than Los Angeles. So Boston has a very vibrant and pretty populous African American constituency in the city. African Americans are definitely a visible and vital part of the great city of Boston.

[smarty]

Originally Posted by GoSox07

P.S. -- Boston's black population is at 25% (I think it was actually up to 28% by 2007) which is obviously a much higher percentage than Los Angeles. So Boston has a very vibrant and pretty populous African American constituency in the city. African Americans are definitely a visible and vital part of the great city of Boston.

For those who like to read more about statistics...
http://www.cityofboston.gov/newbosto...eport_2005.pdf

[gij123]

boston is racist because of its division. the black and hispanic areas want to stay the black and hispanic areas. the white areas want to stay the white areas. the asian and cape verdean areas want to keep it that way. any type of intergration will stir up some small problems but nothing that will run you out of your home.

[ksarahsarah]

My first visit to Boston was in the 1980's when it was evidently undergoing busing. It was the first and only time I've ever seen a KKK rally and it was in downtown Boston. Being from the South it solidified my view of Northerners who say one thing, but do another...just like Southerners. Peace

[willdufauve]

Judge Garrity's decision ordering the Boston Public Schools to desegregate, implementing busing, was in 1974. My spouse worked in an advocacy organization for the Plaintiffs.

The photo shown to the whole world of white teenagers assaulting a Boston (African-American) attorney, Theodore Landsmark, with an American flag(pole) was 1977.

[Liptor]

What i have noticed is many of the "liberals" and "progressives" who dominate cities like Boston politically and culturally say they are not racist and would like people to believe that they are not either. They will speak out against racism, and even vote for black candidates etc. But when it comes down to real life they would never want to live in black neighborhood, or have their sons and daughters having friends or dating a black person. I think they like the idea of "black people" as an overall race, but when it comes down to individual and personal relationships they are quite racist and prejudiced.
Am not saying a Boston "progressive" racist is worst or better than a Southern racist who may be upfront about his dislike for black people, am just saying what the media tries to portray certain places as extremely progressive and tolerant is not the full story.

[Chianti]

I would say the educated folks in Boston are less racist than in most of the country.

However, I would say the blue-collar, never-went-to-college folk in Boston and in the working-class suburbs tend to have quite of bit of racism/prejudice ingrained in them. Just go to Marshfield in the summer- you'll see plenty of confederate flags on vehicles near the beach.

A very interesting dichotomy.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by ksarahsarah

My first visit to Boston was in the 1980's when it was evidently undergoing busing. It was the first and only time I've ever seen a KKK rally and it was in downtown Boston. Being from the South it solidified my view of Northerners who say one thing, but do another...just like Southerners. Peace

ksarahsarah,

I know what you mean by saying that Bostonites were just like southerners. I kind of see it that way. The only differences that I see are that the north used to hide its prejudice from others in secret ways. The attitude was "we don't practice Jim Crow, we don't do lynching and all that stuff." When the South was put on the spot during the 1960's, the south and north almost ended up switching roles. When the riots occured in some of the northern cities, this really made the north look just as bad. The South had to change because it was looking real bad. Atlanta particularly put on an act. Remember the slogan "the city too busy to hate"? Well, I live here and I can say that isn't really the case. Boston was put on the spot during the 1970's because of the school busing wars. Boston looked bad, but it didn't put on an act. The attitude was "I don't care if we do look bad towards the rest of the nation, I just don't want to be around certain people" and some residents just didn't feel the need to put on an act. I think some of Boston's intellectual class did feel the need to put on an act. As for seeing the KKK in Boston, don't be surprised. Even if the South is looked down on here, the views of the KKK are still alive. I think the main difference is that there is alot of smugness. The north has been traditionally smug and the south is traditionally upfront cruel and violent. Smugness is still on both ends. There is alot of "well, the north is worse because they have segregated neighborhoods" and "the south is worse because they used to lynch people and they have the KKK". Newsflash, both places have problems in both ways. I see segregated neighborhoods in Atlanta too. Parts of the northern states have the KKK, even in places like Connecticut and New York.

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

ksarahsarah,

I know what you mean by saying that Bostonites were just like southerners. I kind of see it that way. The only differences that I see are that the north used to hide its prejudice from others in secret ways. The attitude was "we don't practice Jim Crow, we don't do lynching and all that stuff." When the South was put on the spot during the 1960's, the south and north almost ended up switching roles. When the riots occured in some of the northern cities, this really made the north look just as bad. The South had to change because it was looking real bad. Atlanta particularly put on an act. Remember the slogan "the city too busy to hate"? Well, I live here and I can say that isn't really the case. Boston was put on the spot during the 1970's because of the school busing wars. Boston looked bad, but it didn't put on an act. The attitude was "I don't care if we do look bad towards the rest of the nation, I just don't want to be around certain people" and some residents just didn't feel the need to put on an act. I think some of Boston's intellectual class did feel the need to put on an act. As for seeing the KKK in Boston, don't be surprised. Even if the South is looked down on here, the views of the KKK are still alive. I think the main difference is that there is alot of smugness. The north has been traditionally smug and the south is traditionally upfront cruel and violent. Smugness is still on both ends. There is alot of "well, the north is worse because they have segregated neighborhoods" and "the south is worse because they used to lynch people and they have the KKK". Newsflash, both places have problems in both ways. I see segregated neighborhoods in Atlanta too. Parts of the northern states have the KKK, even in places like Connecticut and New York.

I agree that racism is more overt in the South. Not matter what color, people have no problem letting it be known who they like and who they don't--even if in the same company. Northerners will hide it and only let those who are really close to them know about it.

By the way, the Klan began in the North.