Is Boston racist?!?!?!? (Brockton, Methuen, Andover: middle-class, lofts, condos)

[vivabigpapi]

Originally Posted by ctrres

I disagree.

I grew up in the south and came up to Boston in 1986, landing in Somerville, looked around that afternoon and the following day, and then said to a friend, "Boston has no black people. Where are the blacks?" One of the most segregated places I've ever seen.

I later learned from an AA coworker that they didn't attend ball games as fans because of the overt hostility.

I saw a lot of black people in Boston that seemed to be into the Red Sox, and I saw the normal amount of black people one would see at a baseball game in any other stadium across the country (rooting for the Red Sox) at a game in Fenway Park I went to against the Yankees.

Also, as of the 2000 census, Boston's population is 25% black.

[tiny63275]

Originally Posted by mattncind

Last time I checked the entire world has an issue with Racism, Classism, etc...Boston is far from being unique. May I ask where you live currently? I guarantee that it would not be hard to dig up countless stories of racism, no matter what part of the country you live in.

I wrote in my original post that I now live in DC and do not face the same hostile, in your face racism that I experienced in Boston. Excusing the problem because there are some other cities that struggle with racism too is a cop out. It's like saying the guy next door beats his wife too, so what we gonna do? Oh well!

[tiny63275]

Originally Posted by eevee

don't take this the wrong way (I mean no offense, I don't even know you!), but some blacks make themselves targets by the way they act and portray themselves. they hype up negative stereotypes by acting "ghetto" (ie, speaking slang, constant swearing, saying the N word every 10 seconds, etc) and this makes them targets for racists.


I'm not saying racism doesn't exist in Boston (again, I said in my previous post that racism is a problem anywhere in the world multiple races reside), but it's no where near has bad as in some parts of the country. -

No I don't talk and act ghetto. My parents are both teachers, that didn't fly in my household.

I think we will have to agree to disagree on this one. My black friends from childhood are now dispersed in cities through the country (and the world), we trade stories, and even those in the South agree that racism is worse up North. Part of this might be an issue of timing (we grew up there in the 80s) but as I said, I experienced blatant racism even in recent years in Boston.

[tiny63275]

Originally Posted by vivabigpapi

Bostonian 08's reply sounds the most logical (plus, he's a Boston native, which makes him even more credible), I think he's right on everything except for the 80% of the population being stupid, I'd say more like 50% are stupid.
Racism is in every city, look at what happened to Rodney King in LA, and my New Orleans example of that cab driver calling blacks ni-ers and what not. Seriously though, the southern cities are much more racist than Boston.

I clearly said in my original post that grew up in Boston - therefore, I am a Boston native. How's that for your credibility?

Stop punting the ball by saying racism exists everywhere else. That does not excuse it.

[vivabigpapi]

Originally Posted by ctrres

I disagree.

I grew up in the south and came up to Boston in 1986, landing in Somerville, looked around that afternoon and the following day, and then said to a friend, "Boston has no black people. Where are the blacks?" One of the most segregated places I've ever seen.

I later learned from an AA coworker that they didn't attend ball games as fans because of the overt hostility.

Fenway Park has very strict rules, for instance you're not allowed to wear Yankees Suck shirts or any other offensive shirts, because they think it sparks fights. So they won't allow racism these days in the stands either. Go to a game or two at Fenway and you'll be fine.

[vivabigpapi]

Originally Posted by tiny63275

I clearly said in my original post that grew up in Boston - therefore, I am a Boston native. How's that for your credibility?

Stop punting the ball by saying racism exists everywhere else. That does not excuse it.

Other blacks who have grown up in Boston, MA and posted in this thread said they haven't experienced any racism while growing up. It has to do with ones experience, while I think racism is bad, it exists just as much in any other city as it does in Boston, MA. Do the Boston natives in hear agree with me (preferably the black ones, but I'll take white opinions too).

[ryanjpimentel]

I have never seen any racism in Boston and I was there almost everyday from 2000-2007. It's a great, diverse place to visit or live and I don't like hearing about the alleged racism, as I have never found it to be true at all.

[vivabigpapi]

Originally Posted by ryanjpimentel

I have never seen any racism in Boston and I was there almost everyday from 2000-2007. It's a great, diverse place to visit or live and I don't like hearing about the alleged racism, as I have never found it to be true at all.

Good post, are you white or black? If you're black it proves even more that Boston is not racist. The two most racist cities I've heard about are Atlanta and New Orleans.

[ryanjpimentel]

Originally Posted by vivabigpapi

Good post, are you white or black? If you're black it proves even more that Boston is not racist. The two most racist cities I've heard about are Atlanta and New Orleans.

My father is a white son of an Italian immigrant and my mother is African-American, actually...not easy, but i've never had any problem, especially in the city itself. My father grew up in the area and told me horror stories about the 60s and 70s and feuds between Italians, Irish, blacks, etc. But now it's so cuturally diverse and generally accepted that you see Asians, Middle Easterners, whites, puarto ricans, blacks, interracial couples, etc. on a fairly consistant basis.

[vivabigpapi]

Originally Posted by ChunkyMonkey

According to the census bureau, Houston is slightly less segregated than Boston. Here's the list of the most segregated cities in terms of blacks. It is the most comprehensive source out there not based on estimates but actual data. Anything else is just an opinion or personal bias.

1. Milwaukee
2. Detroit
3. Cleveland
4. St. Louis
5. Newark
6. Cincinnati
7. Buffalo
8. New York City
9. Chicago
10. Philadelphia
11. New Orleans
11. Kansas City (tied)
13. Indianapolis
14. Baltimore
15. Miami
16. Rochester
17. Boston
17. Pittsburgh (tied)
19. Los Angeles
20. Houston

Source: Housing Patterns - Table 5-4

For your information, Houston is much more segregated when it comes to hispanics, ranking 8 in the country compared to Boston's 20th ranking. So, it looks like your opinion is not based on facts but just bias.

Source: Housing Patterns - Table 6-4

Isn't pretty much every U.S. city racially segregated? Just because each race lives in their own area doesn't make it racist, it's how they treat each other in neutral territory that matters.