What is the racial climate in MA? (Boston, Cambridge: transfer, college)

[Ronniec78]

It sounds to me like you have a defeated attitude in regards to your race. I will admit that MA is mostly white but I wouldn't say you wouldn't make it in MA because of the color of your skin. There are plenty of minorities in the Boston area who are successful.

[willdufauve]

Originally Posted by Ronniec78

It sounds to me like you have a defeated attitude in regards to your race. I will admit that MA is mostly white but I wouldn't say you wouldn't make it in MA because of the color of your skin. There are plenty of minorities in the Boston area who are successful.

What a load of cr*p that is.

There are many successful blacks in Massachusetts...two of my cousins and an aunt are university professors, one is a vice president of a college, one was a superintendent of schools, several teachers and corporate types...but there is still a glass ceiling for blacks in New England.

I live in a rural area in western Mass. where a lot of people are just plain ignorant and hostile toward difference. Pick your location carefully and make allies regardless of their color.

[Ronniec78]

You just have a rotten attitude. You must be an Al Sharpton supporter. People who complain about glass ceilings only complain because they don't have the drive or the know how to make it to the top.

[Tinawina]

Originally Posted by Ronniec78

It sounds to me like you have a defeated attitude in regards to your race. I will admit that MA is mostly white but I wouldn't say you wouldn't make it in MA because of the color of your skin. There are plenty of minorities in the Boston area who are successful.

Did I miss something? All the original poster asked was about the racial climate in MA, he/she didn't say anything about "not being able to make it". What are you talking about? Was that directed at someone else?


ANYWAY I've been here a few years, and we've been ok. But it can be kind of tense. It's all about the areas you frequent. It is really racially segregated here, and it is hard to find other black professionals. I've heard it said many times that Boston specifically is a difficult place to be if you are not in higher education in terms of meeting other folks. There is a leadership program called "The Partnership" that serves as a vehicle for black professionals to network. Other than that you have to join a large black church or belong to a black fraternity/sorority if you want to have a social life that includes other professionals of color. On the other hand, I've heard great things about the racial climate in Amherst.

[willdufauve]

Originally Posted by Tinawina

It is really racially segregated here, and it is hard to find other black professionals. I've heard it said many times that Boston specifically is a difficult place to be if you are not in higher education in terms of meeting other folks. There is a leadership program called "The Partnership" that serves as a vehicle for black professionals to network. Other than that you have to join a large black church or belong to a black fraternity/sorority if you want to have a social life that includes other professionals of color. On the other hand, I've heard great things about the racial climate in Amherst.

It's the same in Amherst, socially.

Amherst is a community that expresses to the outer world that it values tolerance. Social life for blacks, especially young singles, has always been limited there because of low numbers more than attitudes (my spouse and a few cousins were among the first wave of blacks that essentially integrated UMass in the early 60's so we have a long history there).

There's a large professor class including many very successful, affluent blacks in Amherst and it's a great place to live. Western Mass otherwise is basically segregated and parts of Franklin County, in general, are extremely intolerant and aggressive about it.

[smarty]

Originally Posted by willdufauve

There's a large professor class including many very successful, affluent blacks in Amherst and it's a great place to live.

Large?

The U.S. Department of Education reports that in 2004 there were 33,137 black full-time faculty members at degree-granting institutions in the United States. They made up 5.4 percent of the more than 610,000 full-time faculty members at these institutions.

I guess a couple of hundred is large?

[willdufauve]

A large presence in Amherst, to me, during the twelve years I lived there.

The late Dr. David DuBois, (step)son of W.E.B. DuBois was particularly supportive of an anti-racism project of mine, something I've always been very proud of.

Your point is well taken and I thank you for making it, especially today, January 21.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by Ronniec78

You just have a rotten attitude. You must be an Al Sharpton supporter. People who complain about glass ceilings only complain because they don't have the drive or the know how to make it to the top.

You'll do fine in Sherman, Texas.

[Ronniec78]

It's better than being in MA.

[DonnaReed]

Originally Posted by Ronniec78

It sounds to me like you have a defeated attitude in regards to your race. I will admit that MA is mostly white but I wouldn't say you wouldn't make it in MA because of the color of your skin. There are plenty of minorities in the Boston area who are successful.

Oh, please.

Well-educated and well-traveled white professionals in Boston, of whom I know very many, will tell you Boston is one of the most racists states in the nation, and some will put it at the top of the list.

There are Blacks doing well there, I know several, who have the type of credentials that almost cannot be denied. They face racism on a daily basis as most Blacks will admit all Black folks do, but in Boston even more so.