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To all of you that disagreed with my post, show me some examples or proof that DC addopted or embraced a southern heritage. Show me some proof that DC's Jewish population was more southern than northern. DC has always sided with the north on any issues relating to race. DC has always been liberal and heavily democratic. Show me some proof other than soul food.
No time for a longer post, but 4/5 of Georgetown's alumni joined the Confederacy. Bolling v Sharpe was a school desegregation court case. It was historically very connected to the South economically and socially. There was an exhibit about ten years ago called "Southern City, National Ambition" (or something similar) about DC's early history, so obviously many people do consider it more in line with the south. I have no idea if DC's Jewish population specifically has been more "northern" than "southern," but you seemed to be suggesting that "Jewish" was in itself evidence of northern culture, but that's not a given.
I don't consider liberal and voting democrat to be indicators of historical "northerness."
I think historical ties had a great deal to do with the way DC evolved in the 20th century. And the school segregation was certainly 20th century. It's not a deep South city, of course, but it's certainly not "northern," either, and hasn't ever been.
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Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist
I think historical ties had a great deal to do with the way DC evolved in the 20th century. And the school segregation was certainly 20th century. It's not a deep South city, of course, but it's certainly not "northern," either, and hasn't ever been.
The thing was, it never really was a "deep" south city, it was more of a south buffer city.
It was a city planned to please southerners into thinking that their region is represented by a united government in a capital with a fair location to both sides.
You're misunderstanding what I'm saying. What happend in the South as far as demonstrations, led to nationwide policies.
But this is about the North so I will digress...
And you are misunderstanding what I am saying. The major civil rights demonstrations were in the South because that's the part of the country where the most egregious civil rights abuses were.
DC was never a fully southern city or adopted any southern heritage, so it was easy for the city to transform or evolve over time. People came to DC looking for jobs to escape the hard labor of the south. The AA population of DC was the only group that contributed to its southernness (slight accent and food). The white population of DC in its hey day were middle class Jews. They were not southern by any shape of the imagination. As the city became more cosmopolitan and diverse, AA's in DC began to disconnect from their roots. Today DC is totally different than it was 20 years ago.
What? First of all, what source leads you to believe that Washington's white population was ever composed of "middle class Jews"? I'm sure there was a Jewish presence (though today, fewer than 5% of the city's pop. are Jews), but I seriously doubt they predominated. And why did you bring up Jews in the first place? Is the presence of a a Jewish community supposed to prove that the city is not Southern? Aren't you aware of the significant Jewish communities in such cities as Atlanta, Charleston and New Orleans, as well as in small towns in rural areas (e.g., Ben Bernanke is a small town Southern Jew).
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The demonstrations were in the South because that's where all the legally sanctioned segregation was in the US!
I'm sure there was a Jewish presence (though today, fewer than 5% of the city's pop. are Jews), but I seriously doubt they predominated. And why did you bring up Jews in the first place? Is the presence of a a Jewish community supposed to prove that the city is not Southern? Aren't you aware of the significant Jewish communities in such cities as Atlanta, Charleston and New Orleans, as well as in small towns in rural areas (e.g., Ben Bernanke is a small town Southern Jew).
