Is Boston racist?!?!?!? (Cambridge, Fitchburg, Clinton: sales, best school, living in)

[holden125]

Originally Posted by K-Luv

By the way, the Klan began in the North.

This is flat out not true. No less an odious authority than the Mississippi Knights of the Klan confirm that it was founded in late 1865 in Pulaski, Tennessee, about 10 miles from the Alabama border.

History of the Ku Klux Klan** Pulaski is a small town in southern Tennessee

The Klan was fairly prominent in the 1920s on the eastern half of Long Island, NY, however. The population was mostly white protestant farmers and fishermen, and their target was generally not African Americans, who were not numerous there at the time, but rather immigrants, particularly those who were Catholic and Jewish, from southern and eastern Europe, who had come into New York City in large numbers.

[willdufauve]

There was a lot of Klan in western Mass in the 1920's around Orange, Athol, Greenfield.
Also Shelton, Ct.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by willdufauve

There was a lot of Klan in western Mass in the 1920's around Orange, Athol, Greenfield.
Also Shelton, Ct.

Are you sure it was that long ago?

Seriously, I think there was a lot of Klan activity in the 20's in predominenltly WASP rural northern areas in states where large numbers of Catholic and Jewish immigrants had moved. People were seeing what they considered rabble a couple of hours away, and the demographic shift was starting to have an impact on the state political scene. In New York, Irish Catholic Al Smith was governor as early as 1919. When Smith was the 1928 Democratic presidential nominee the Klan made itself heard on Long Island and parts of upstate New York.

[Huckleberry3911948]

i love boston. i speak spanish.
there are no "racist" cities? just buildings staring at each other?
the name calling, "racist" often comes up when people get called on their stuff?

[willdufauve]

Originally Posted by holden125

Are you sure it was that long ago?

Seriously, I think there was a lot of Klan activity in the 20's in predominenltly WASP rural northern areas in states where large numbers of Catholic and Jewish immigrants had moved. People were seeing what they considered rabble a couple of hours away, and the demographic shift was starting to have an impact on the state political scene. In New York, Irish Catholic Al Smith was governor as early as 1919. When Smith was the 1928 Democratic presidential nominee the Klan made itself heard on Long Island and parts of upstate New York.

Holden125... the late Bud Collins, who was a sports writer for the Boston Herald, wrote a book called "Our Town" in which he wrote a bit about the Klan in northern Massachusetts. I believe you're right about Pulaski, TN though.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by willdufauve

Holden125... the late Bud Collins, who was a sports writer for the Boston Herald, wrote a book called "Our Town" in which he wrote a bit about the Klan in northern Massachusetts. I believe you're right about Pulaski, TN though.

I had agreed that the Klan was active in the north, and in Massachusetts. I was just responding to a post that said it was FOUNDED in the north, which I don't believe is true. I thought the Klan in the north was more of a 20's thing; did Bud refer to it being then or sometime earlier or later as well?

When you say northern Mass. do you mean Athol and Orange or north of Boston? My remark was meant to convey that, unfortunately, I sometimes get the impression the Klan wouldn't be that out of fashion in the Athol/Orange area today.

Will, when I tried to google the Bud book I found a forum where you were thinking of moving to Mississippi. Are you ditching us because you're tired of Greenfield? (Put something on the internet and anyone can find it-shudder)

[willdufauve]

Franklin County, Greenfield, Turners Falls, but you can include Orange and Athol. There's nothing like an organized klan in that area today and in the '20s the klan in Mass. was more anti-Catholic than anything else.

Franklin County has some serious issues with racism currently. It's a pervasive ignorance, stereotyping and scapegoating that comes with unfamiliarity and poor education, not a thought out ideology or organization. Stupidity really.

I read Collin's book years ago but it should be in your local library because he was a popular sports guy. A lot of people don't even know there was slavery in New England. The former Town Engineer in Amherst, Bill Smith?, did some research on Amherst's African-American burial ground, etc. and wrote about that. It's in the Jones Library.

[MovingForward]

No, Boston is not really racist. Any more, that is, than NYC or Tokyo or London, Rio de Janeiro, or any other major metropolitan area is racist. In fact, it is much less racist than most. In general, racism is a world-wide phenomenon, practiced by a variety of people of different races. There is racial segregation in Boston, the result of both racist social structures (historically) AND self-segregation on the part of people--of all races--who prefer to live in areas which are populated predominantly by people of their own race/culture.

[willdufauve]

Boston's various racism aspects ebb and flow over time. Young blacks coming from other areas notice the dating dance is trickier, interracial socializing is more limited, and there's still an entry obstacle and glass ceiling for black professionals.

For older people the images of public school de-segregation, busing, the "flag" assault on Theodore Landsmark, the South Boston Irish and Polish stoning black kids' school buses, are still very deeply imbedded.

Parts of Roxbury, South End and other black neighborhoods have been integrated/gentrified. South Boston is still Southie. Boston is less racist than many places. Individuals coming there are correct to be concerned and ask about it. It's just hypothetical until it's all of a sudden right up in that individuals face.

The discussion is usually in black and white, where it's most polarized. The increasing number of multi-racials, interracial couples, biracial children, multi-racial extended families, may hold another paradigm.

[spfld751]

I live in Atlanta but i am originally from Springfield,Ma.Being someone that loves old cities,Boston was my first choice when i decided to move.I love the culture and the architecture,great restaurants and shopping.The only reason i did not move to Boston was because of the cost of live not racism.I've been going to Boston since i was a kid and i have never had a problem.I am someone who loves nice things,so i go to the nice stores and restaurants on and around newbury st.My first week in Atlanta i was called the n-word,first in my life.