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First of all, the first article was just one of many racism features Gawker did about many cities across the US, so I'm not sure why you are singling Pittsburgh out.
Secondly, you can find like a million blog posts questioning racism in EVERY major city in the US. That's probably an indication that's it's far from an isolated issue, and certainly not isolated to the South.
Racism is everywhere, whether it's out in the open, subtle, institutionalized, etc.
Not saying it's running rampant like a wildfire, but moreso that it's not limited to one specific area. Some more than others on the surface, but really, racism is not limited and it's certainly not "over" either.
Boston does not have a great history with race relations. There is a subtle racist vibe that runs through New England's undercurrent. Or shall I say "exclusive" vibe. Meaning you're not welcome, or this is ours not yours type thing, which also can be a reason why outsiders think it's a rude place, and these are white folks. Now imagine if you're black.
I can say that my experiences with New England are limited being only around peoples of the same color. So honestly I can't speak for what it is like to be Black there.
I can say that my experiences with New England are limited being only around peoples of the same color. So honestly I can't speak for what it is like to be Black there.
You don't have to be able to speak for what it is like to be Black there. But it is still nonetheless surprising that you weren't aware of the uglier side of Boston history. It's the same way you don't have to be Black to have heard about Ferguson.
But this thread is about Northern cities and history. Not American. So I agree Philly is more distinctly American based on history and can lay claim of 'Murica all it wants, but this thread is about what makes cities Northern.
I think Yankee heritage distinctly does that. Philly had more Quaker heritage. It doesn't get more stereotypical Northern than Yankees.
Yankee heritage? Do you mean Puritan?
"Yankee" has been used by various groups to describe various people, usually insultingly.
And Quakers fist settled throughout the Northeast-in Boston, where they were persecuted and in Philadelphia, where they thrived. But large communities were also in Rhode Island and New Jersey.
To foreigners, a Yankee is an American.
To Americans, a Yankee is a Northerner.
To Northerners, a Yankee is an Easterner.
To Easterners, a Yankee is a New Englander.
To New Englanders, a Yankee is a Vermonter.
And in Vermont, a Yankee is somebody who still uses an outhouse.
Well, umm, all American cities have their low points.
There was a study I saw (can't find the link) in the early 90s that found white Boston suburban residents were less uncomfortable with blacks moving in than Detroit suburban residents.
Then there's this one-term Boston congresswoman from the early 70s whose main political platform was anti-busing (or pro-school segregation, depending on your point of view). On George Wallace:
He's a segregationist. I don't want to be connected to him... While a large part of my vote probably does come from bigoted people. ... I know I'm not bigoted. To me the word means all the dreadful southern segregationist, Jim Crow business that's always shocked and revolted me.
she also said
at least one hundred black people walking around in the black community who have killed white people during the last two years
Quintessentially northern racism, but very not the southern kind.
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