What is the racial climate in MA? (Boston, Cambridge: low crime, new home)

[MovingForward]

Diversity comes in many forms, not just racial. I live in Arlington, which is a diverse area--racially and otherwise. I chose to live here because it is a safe town and I can take a walk at night if I want to. I would never choose to live somewhere based on the racial make-up of the people. I have to know the school system (for property values), crime rate, environmental safety, etc. In Boston, this means neighborhoods/towns with high percentages of white people. So be it. I'm not going to move into an area with high crime, restrict my freedoms (as a woman), just so I can proudly say that I live in a "diverse" area. In my opinion, that's the dumbest type of liberalism (and I'm a liberal). As it happens, Arlington is pretty diverse racially, too, so I feel I've got the best of all worlds.

[ogre]

Originally Posted by MovingForward

Diversity comes in many forms, not just racial. I live in Arlington, which is a diverse area--racially and otherwise. I chose to live here because it is a safe town and I can take a walk at night if I want to. I would never choose to live somewhere based on the racial make-up of the people. I have to know the school system (for property values), crime rate, environmental safety, etc. In Boston, this means neighborhoods/towns with high percentages of white people. So be it. I'm not going to move into an area with high crime, restrict my freedoms (as a woman), just so I can proudly say that I live in a "diverse" area. In my opinion, that's the dumbest type of liberalism (and I'm a liberal). As it happens, Arlington is pretty diverse racially, too, so I feel I've got the best of all worlds.

Diversity comes in many forms, but many people have very legitimate reasons for feeling more comfortable in areas where there are a number of people of their own race. If Landrover can handle nearly all-white areas, that opens up a lot of possibilities. I wouldn't say that areas more than a half hour from Boston are "hicksville" as an earlier post described. On the other hand, most of them are mostly white. A lot of the towns already suggested have a somewhat urban character, though some more than others. Landrover, if that works, the suggestions already made on this thread are worth a look.

If you want something more out in the country, but would prefer something that's not nearly all white, it gets tougher. I'm wondering whether there might not be some possibilities north of Boston. Anyone know about north-shore possibilities (urban or rural, racially mixed or white but accepting, depending on Landrover's needs)?

[manchester]

very hard for what you want in all honesty , Lynn , revere east boston and chelsea , lowell, methuen, haverhill are diverse, cambridge where harvard is probably the safest place which is diverse.

All north shore

other than that like has been mentioned they are mostly just white english speaking towns on the whole

south shore then it be brockton, randolph(good location , very diverse, houses relativly cheap, not sure on the school area though

sorry couldn't help you out more but wish you luck and take care

[MovingForward]

From my understanding of Landrover's post, he wasn't asking for information about which towns are more black or more white. Rather, he was asking about the racial climate in MA, as a whole. Very different questions. Also, I'm not so sure that I agree that there are legitimate reasons for preferring to associate with/share a neighborhood with people of one's own race over and above people of another. A neighborhood/town of predominantly any race can be unwelcoming, for a variety of reasons. There is no racial nirvana anywhere. I think the time has come to give up that particular fantasy and just learn to live together and respect one another. Self-imposed separatism, for any reason, builds no bridges.

[nooneknowsmyname]

Originally Posted by landrover06

I'm considering transferring to a law school in MA from northern CA, yet never having visited the state, I'm curious about the racial climate there. I've heard that Boston is a horrible place for black professionals. Is this true? What about for black lawyers? Are there cities, towns that are absolutely off limits? Interracial families, what are your experiences? Black MA residents, please share your insights as well.

All perspectives appreciated. Thank you.

Landrover06. Not sure if you remember, but you and I have posted several messages on the California-San Francisco thread. I am an African American professional. Although I currently live in the SF Bay Area, I grew up in a small town approximately 30 miles from Boston, where my family has lived since the mid 1860s, and I still have family living there. I can give you whatever information you'd like, but having read some of the postings, would prefer to exchange the information off of this message board because I don't want to get into negative exchanges which I fear will happen if I give you my honest opinion. If you're interested in my insights, feel free to send me a personal message.

[bostonnative]

I always thought Mass was a more progressive place???, less racist crap- I am reading this stuff and am shocked about a monkey poster being put up @ a bar? WHAT? How ridiculous!

then again, I am white - so I probably am unaware of this stuff.

Let me speak for the educated 30 somethings- I don't know anyone in my group of friends from highschool, college and proffesional world that would tolerate that kind of stuff.

Stick with educated folks...if you are in law school that should be easy....

6 million people in Massachusetts....bound to be some idiots, but lots of great ones too!

[maraj]

I have only lived in Massachusetts for six years but it has been fairly obvious to me that many of the areas are extremely segregated. Boston seems to be especially segregated. I have lived in Worcester, Lowell, Somerville, and Arlington and commuted to Boston for one year. A person can get on a subway train and watch the races of people riding literally change from white to black, according to what line is being taken.

In my experience, it seems like little is being done to integrate public schools as well. I lived in North Carolina (Raleigh) for ten years and Maryland (Laurel/Columbia) for four years while in school and both places didn't seem to have a problem keeping schools integrated. I think this is an overlooked topic in Massachusetts because MA is historically supposed to be less racist. It seems like the schools are only integrated if there is a very large single public high school in a city, like in Cambridge and Lowell. All that being said, it is hard to know whether or not people are tolerant. I would think they are in more liberally-minded cities, near Boston especially.

[MovingForward]

maraj: You are absolutely correct: Boston is an incredibly segregated city. Whenever I visit my brother in Raleigh, I'm struck by how much more integrated it is. It's difficult to state whether people of an entire geographical area are "tolerant," however. My guess is that racism comes in many forms--some subtle and some decidedly not--and who is or who isn't really depends on other factors: class, education level, cultural background, etc. For example, one evening a friend and I decided to eat dinner at the dining room of the college where I teach. She is from Nigeria. The cashier and the manager of the dining room refused to let us enter to eat dinner. They were obviously racist and kept glaring at her. I told them that that was ridiculous, that as a faculty member, I had every right to bring a guest to dinner. They absolutely refused, so we left. Needless to say, I went to management the next day and complained. In any case, the cashier and manager were immigrants from Latin America (don't know which country), could barely speak English, but--even as "outsiders" themselves--were so racist against black people that they refused to let us in to eat dinner. They weren't confused, or somehow didn't understand--it was clear as day that they were racists.

[nooneknowsmyname]

Here's another thread that has been discussing this topic although the focus is on Boston.


http://www.city-data.com/forum/bosto...on-racist.html

[2KidsforMe]

Just playing devil's advocate for a minute-does racial integration necessarily equal racial tolerance? I went to college in a major city out West, very, very diverse, but one of the most racially charged places I have ever been in my life! Racial issues were at the forefront of a majority of discussions, and mud was slug in every direction it seemed. Maybe I am missing something, but I just don't see that so much out here. However, I am not naive enough to believe that there are not ignorant intolerant fools here in MA, as well as everywhere else.