When I saw the video from a sitting Senator`s campaign workers it brought back many of the feeling that ran rampet in tBoston years ago. I really thought we had come further than this. Senator Brown should have stopped all this racial hatred in its tracks, but how can he when he encouraged it, starting at the debate. What the Hell difference does it make about EW ettnicity any way? She is qualified to do the job I think and would do it without racism entering into it.

Sandy. You should probably re- read the last part of your post. Who is racist now?

I removed a comment because it was racist. Please commenters disprove the notion that Boston is a racist city - don't add to it! And personally, I don't think Boston is more racist than other cities. I see people of all colors living in the same neighborhoods, sharing in neighborhood block parties, and working together. And I've often seen parent of different races organize play dates for their children.

BS

The first thing I noticed when I moved to Boston was how white people on the train see through people of color. I would see people getting off the train and make polite with other white people moving out of the train, but would always cut in front of and not pay attention to a person of color. Didn't matter if it was a latino teen in baggy jeans, a black man in a suit, or a asian mother with her child. It really surprised me. Especially because there are some incredibly smart people from all over the world that come through Boston, and that person could be cutting of a Nobel laureate (read: someone they respect). And more importantly, we should be civil to anybody, whether their a Nobel laureate, garbage man, teacher. Etc. Theoretically and policy-wise, Bostonian's are liberal, but in practice they really only see the world through the eyes of white people. I used to live in Baltimore, which is also often called a racist city, but when I go back I remember that whether on the train, at the pub, in the grocery store there are white and black people everywhere and they talk to one another.

You can mathematically determine how racist an area is. Do a little research and find out how many cross race marriages there are in that area.
So, what percentage of white / black marriages occured in Boston in 2011 vs other cities in 2011 would give you your answer.
enjoy.

I'm so tired of this topic. All cities have some degree of racism, just some are more obvious, or honest, or just...more. However, let's look at the arguments above: 1) Yes, there was racism in busing, but there was also an element of children being removed from their neighborhoods and sent across town to an unfamiliar school away from their friends. What parent wants that? 2) Yawkey was racist, not necessarily the fans. We're rabid baseball fans...if we had a chance to have one of the greatest baseball players of all time and he happened to be African-American, I think he would have been accepted by the majority. 3) Research showed that many of the taunts of Ward originated far from Boston, including from Canada. Why does no one mention that the Bruins had the first black player in the NHL, the Celtics had one of the first in the NBA, and Bill Russell was the first African-American coach in basketball? I've lived in LA, Atlanta, DC...Boston is by far the city of those that has the highest number of integrated groups of friends walking around together (probably because of busing, I don't know), and it seems to me there are more interracial couples here, and no one seems to bother them. Just because people of different races live near each other (LA, Atlanta, DC), if they don't socialize with each other, does that mean the city isn't racist?!

Also, QUINCY ISN'T BOSTON!!!!

I lived through the 70's troubles as a 1974 Dot high grad. The blind hatred on both sides was palpable. Violence was common and directed at both sides. But the vast majority where bystanders just wanting to live their lives in peace. Today's Boston is far removed from that terrible time in our city and though vestiges of the past remain today things are much better.

Boston does seem to be the quite segregated - it runs with class, there is a direct correlation between race and class (South Boston, did have a contingent of really poor white people, where you found stories of impoverished violence - Whitey Bulger.... think "All Souls," or "Mystic River") . I've felt the discontent and anger. There is some serious vibing, antiwhite feelings on the Orange Line. NYC with its size and density is more polite and friendly! I grew up in Miami... a real melting pot, with less economic inequality - where races mixed better within the same class.. Don't forget Boston's roots of wealth... and our now draw of wealthy students who then settle.. between our Universities, Hospitals and old money... we have a very divided economic world - that is separated by train tracks and bus lines... most of what we are experiencing may not be race but class discrimination- unfortunately given the history of race inequality .. many minorities have been in generational poverty.

It's tough to talk about race in an honest, open way. One of my neighbors helped put together a program where teens of various races in Jamaica Plain met on a regular basis and worked through each others' racial assumptions. Here's a video profile of the program, the Racial Healing and Reconciliation Documentary Project: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84imro3UVig

John, you're an idiot. Let me guess, you hate Mondays, too?

I love all people. I just cant tolerate the nasty people who degrade our community with their dog fouling. Peace.

John,

Actually a person of color cannot be racist. They can be prejudiced. Racism is prejudice plus power. Whites are still in the majority of positions of power (heads of companies, members of congress, governors of states and so on in the U.S. And, the idea that you'd be mugged for being white is absurd. You'd be mugged if the mugger thought you'd have money on you and were an easy mark.

I remember my parents telling me the story about the boy who cried wolf. I'm going to tell my kids the story about the liberal who cried racism.
I'm so sick of hearing these baseless and absurd accusations. Some guy wrote something about Islam on a sign somewhere. So what? We're suddenly a racist a city? Give me a break.

In every city there a plenty of liberals looking to be victims of something.

I'm a white person, and I can assure you, I've been attacked and insulted for being white more than I'd every dream of judging someone on their race.

And, if anyone is really buying Liz Warren's excuses, why hasn't she released her employment records? She was asked to do so 100 times and keeps dodging the question.

There is still a lot of racism in Boston. I'd say folks out in the suburbs are the worst. I grew up out there and when I see old friends I grew up with and tell them I live in Dorchester I get the "Do you have a gun?" question more than anything else. That's changing though as I was out at an event and a young man said to me that he had moved into the city into a up and coming neighborhood. When I asked where I almost fell over when he said Dorchester... He was already drawing lines saying he was in Savin Hill over the bridge though... That said there is still the effects of institutional racism in city and state government related to the delivery of services. It's color blind today though and is more a down town versus neighborhoods issue. There is still a racial component as older traditionally white neighborhoods get better responses than more mixed or predominantly minority neighborhoods. I could go on for days with the slights I've seen in 31 years of living in Boston, but...

I think Boston has been through the worst of it, but I lived in the S.F. Bay Area for decades, thinking it was a progressive, integrated, tolerant city (and it is). HOWEVER, coming back to Boston after 27 years was complete culture shock! The energy here is much more dense, serious and heavy than where I lived in California. I lived on the South Shore during the Bussing crisis, before leaving MA at age 21.

When I returned, I first lived in J.P. but later moved to Roslindale. I had neighbors on the other side of Rozzie from where I now live who moved back into their mother's homes, so they could "keep the neighborhood white". Yes, I am quoting the grown men who still used the N-word while drinking beer on their front steps, 40 years after Bussing. They knew my landlord was not white. I told them that was 40 years ago, get over it, they said, "Well, that's how we feel". BUT THESE PEOPLE HAVE ATTITUDES THAT ARE IN THE MINORITY!

I strongly believe that overall, there is now a greater degree of tolerance and acceptance. I think that always precedes any socializing, although I, an older white woman in the minority here, routinely chat with others at the bus stop, on the bus, and sometimes on the T. Our neighbors even let us cut through a trail and through their yard to get to the bus stop, so we don't have a long walk around the block. I have never witnessed anyone "seeing through" people of color more than other whites. A lot of people of many races simply ignore everyone. Although I generally look everyone in the eye and am pretty aware of my surroundings, when I'm late for work, I don't even notice one of my housemates when I run past him! And it's not because he is Hispanic!

After several years of again living in J.P. "the most diverse district of Boston", I am now on the other side of Roslindale, in what is NOT a predominantly white neighborhood. I take both a bus and the Orange line regularly, as I have no car to insulate me from contact with my community. Nor would I want to be insulated! I am sensitive to my environment, and although I notice there may be some people who seem angry or depressed, I can't agree with the notion of "serious vibing, anti-white feelings on the Orange Line". You never know what a person has been through, or what their experience is. Along with older African-American cultures, we have immigrants in Boston who have endured genocide and rape in their home countries.

I don't think the tough vibe is necessarily directed at whites, but more of a cultural survival skill. I have encountered MORE politeness from not only older generation black males, when compared to white males, but even from some of the fiercest looking, unsmiling young black men getting on the bus, who step back and motion me, an older woman like their mother or grandmother, to board first. Somebody raised them well! Later, I see some of these tough-looking young men laughing with their friends and I realize a lot of that tough vibe is just pretense or posturing when out in the world.

Is Boston Racist? ....All one needs to do is to examine the plethora of agitated denials, finger pointing, attempting to accuse victims of racism as being " racist" themselves when pointing out racism they experienced..Though minorities are currently the majority, Boston still has the legacy of being an "Irish" town. Despite the history of racist hate crimes by South Boston Irish during the busing era.. much of it was all but ignored even by the local media..who to this day still affectionately refer to south boston as "southie".

It's the height of arrogance ( and inherently racist) to dismiss, disrespect, and verbally attack individuals of color who express their own personal experiences with racism.. Until you walk a day in their shoes ( skin) you have NO idea what their experience is..Playing the "blame game" eg ( oh a black guy was mean to me too) only reflects your own culpability adding to the problem..
We are loathe to admit that as white Americans - we will never know what its like to be followed around in store by security assuming your whiteness makes you a shoplifter..being followed by cops when driving in an upscale neighborhood and questioned " what you are doing here?"... or.. being stopped " driving while white".. because you look " suspicious".

No - Boston is not as blatantly racist as it once was but still racist nonetheless.. The difference being Boston's racism is now mostly "covert" - instead of overt
as in the past..

Kwum, you are right, no one can truly know the experience of another, as I also mentioned, and yes, it probably has become more covert. I think white Americans tend to fear the unfamiliar. No one has mentioned the prevalence of Muslim women, who generally attract much staring. To each, their own, although I'd like to see more assimilation and blending of cultures instead of pockets of people who do not socialize.

As for shoplifting, the oft-quoted "Are you finding everything you need?" question in Whole Foods is a known anti-shoplifting tactic, directed at whites. But it hardly compares to the "presumed guilty until proven otherwise" tactic directed at people of color. (Well, I started responding "NO, I'm finding that I can't actually SHOP, which would be to compare products, without someone asking me that question every 5 minutes." Not that I can afford to shop there any more.)

Jay K. pretty much covered my feelings on Elizabeth Warren's assumed heritage. I think Scott Brown is blowing it by bringing it up AGAIN, which demonstrates his campaign's desperation and inability to focus on the real issues of concern to people.

I am a cock-eyed optimist. I think we have more in common with other human beings than we have differences. Most people want peace, and strive for a good life. Although we have MUCH to overcome to resolve our differences, I think the key to that is to focus on our commonalities. Not to make light of that, but I believe we are evolving towards Unity consciousness, and that one day we will be known not from neighborhood, city, county, state, or country, but simply as human beings, from earth. A planetary people. Then we will need an "EARTH PATCH" ;-)

Screw all this nonsense!!!

BARACK OBAMA CAMPAIGN CALLS BILL CLINTON A RACIST

Political crap by democrats

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPNdIrnwyfE

Ahhh, Boston!! "Race"? 1, human, all of us here in this debate/argument/conversation. Talk of 'race' perpetuates a lie. If we talk of power, privilege, preference, & position in Boston think about sports here. Larry Bird PHENOMENAL player, 3 championships will soon have a statue. Orr 1 championship ALREADY has a statue. Some guy who lead a Boston team to 11 CHAMPIONSHIPS will, someday, in the future, soon enough, have a statue. If Bill Russell were of a different ethnicity he's be REVERED in these parts. Skin color still matters BIG TIME in this town.

I'm Black American. About 16 years ago I was lost & walkung in Southie maybe a block from the bath house. I saw a bunch of teenaged boys on a porch ahead of me & prepared myself for the worse.

I asked for directions & the reply was, "Yes, sir. It's just 2 blocks ahead & take that left."

So, dude who "if-I-had-a-certain-skin-color-on-MLK Blvd" you don't know what would happen. You'll NEVER know what would happen 'cause you'll never grow a pair big enough to challenge stereotypes.

Boston ??? Had the author ever visited Dallas/FW, Shreveport, LA, or any town in central Connecticut. Hey Boston has its problems, but its still better than most places.

People get robbed because of color all the time!!! I doubt that 1 person in this chat has robbed anyone, or been to jail... The 60s weren't that long ago. Takes more than 40-50 years to wash away centuries of inequalities. Let's face it, America was built on wiping out the Indians.... It is getting better as generations of tolerance are growing. By reading this page I realize that their is still much racism left in the world, and most of you sheltered people still do not get it. Just because you say your not racist, does not mean it is true. Most of you have no problem having Brazilians make your Nike shoes for $2 an hour slave labor, or Mexicans make your food at McDonald's for crap wages, or Asian's giving you a massage, and cleaning your feet!!! This message is not intended for everyone, Just you pretenders. I live in Mass, and have been and lived all over the U.S., and I'll tell you this..... Every project, slum, or getto, has racism, and the rich 1%ers are even more racist and removed from the real world. I am a poor man stuck in between the homeless, and the millionaires. You know me... I'm lower middle class, living in apartment buildings, and sharing walls with you........

Mr. Chameleon and others,

Racism is not the same thing as prejudice, stereotypes or hate crimes, though there are certainly connections between all of them. But I do appreciate how, instead of having a debate or discussion, several of you simply attacked me and my intelligence. I am an extremely well educated and thoughtful person. How will our city, state and country grow stronger if we simply hurl insults at those we disagree with in an effort make them feel small? When that's all you've got, you've already lost the argument.

The only thing I am against is dirty people walking their dog and messing everywhere. Disgusting!!!

I guess some people on the comments never heard of white privilege

I moved from the south (Va/Ga) to MA 14 years ago, and Boston is LIGHT years ahead of them in terms of racial and ethnic tolerance. Boston is not racist...it's just Boston. Everyone calls Boston racist because of the busing issue. I've lived in the burbs (Newton), Roxbury and Southie and have had no issues at all. If Boston (and Ma as a whole) is so racist, why is it we are the ONLY state with an African-American governor? I'd much rather live here than the south.

It seems to me that to call somebody "racist" can be a serious insult, but to /act/ racist is still relatively acceptable. I could be wrong, though.

I try to respect all people (three years in the Pacific Fleet helped).
Nevertheless, a while back, I did something racist (but not really bad) with no conscious intent. Thinking about what I'd done, I realized that there was still unconscious racism lurking in my
mind. More work to do.

Listening to some of these comments it appears we've gone nowhere in the 47 years since my school district in Northern California went to busing. That was '65 and as an 8 year old it was scary but you had to deal with it, confront your fears, get along, and focus on learning. The kids who stayed grew up fast, maybe too fast, but at least got real-life experience. I had many friends whose parents were overcome with fear and left for the suburbs and the promise of a more sanitized life-style. Racism was rampant in the US at this time and it still exists but to suggest that Boston is a racist city reveals the state of our collective cultural amnesia. I've lived in Boston now for 30 years and have high-school children in the BPS and I can tell you we have come a long way. These kids and their friends of all colors and backgrounds are so inspiring in their progressive views, so worldly in their ambitions, so involved in their community it makes discussions like these seem regressive and pointless. Its OK to grow old people but please stay young.

My brother,cousins and myself have served in the Armed Forces: 7th Special Force, 82nd Airborne, Marines, and U.S Air Force. We are all first generation Americans, I personally have experienced racism in both fronts military and back home in Boston Mass., being sons of Guatemalan parents that came to JP in late 60's. I have lived and experienced many cities and towns: Mountain Home, Idaho pop. 8,000. San Diego, CA., Fayetteville, NC. Salt Lake City, Utah. Bay Saint Louis, Miss. and yet I have said that Boston Ma. Is by far one of the most racially divided states. Other than ole Miss. The country of France would fall third if it were a state of U.S.

Anyone else find it stupid that the example of Boston being racist -- "a guy I know from Quincy" -- uses someone who's not from Boston?

I can't say where I would rank Boston in terms of being "most racist" but two things come to mind regarding any movie filmed in Boston:
1) No black leading actor/actress (probably no Asian or Latino either)
2) any women "from Boston" is portrayed as a "broad" as opposed to any girl that is classy in a Boston based movie is generally from some place else...

Without a doubt Boston is the most racist city I have ever visited or lived in. I would not recommend and ethnicity other than white to live here. If you do, then say bye bye to your social life as there are mostly whites here and they aint friendly towards ppl of color.

People like Jake put Boston (rightfully) on the list. Ignorance is blissful I guess. Equal to their peers?

Well there is racism everywhere no matter where you go so Boston shouldn't be singled out, or any city for that matter.

Oh and why are black people referred to as colored people when everyone has some sort of pigment! Nobody is SUPER white unless you are an albino.

Natives may not wish to admit the prejudice, but those of us who are newcomers talk about the "Balkanization of Boston." It is shocking how segregated this city is! In general, Boston is a major metropolitan area whose citizens are as (or more) xenophobic than those in a small, Midwestern town.

Historically? Even when Boston was abolitionist in the 19th century, all the white people removed their children from Bronson Alcott's school when he admitted a black child.

boston never wanted black people to live thier since day one

yes boston is rascist and belongs on the top three! Boston has found a way to abolish slavery but turn it into a mentility! im born and raised and decided i dont want to be buried here!

Uh...NAACP (CP stands for "COLORED PEOPLE"). Ugh...liberals and their obsession with racism.

I grew up in Boston, but have lived in the DC area for most of my adult life. I have traveled to Atlanta a lot for business. I have also traveled for personal reasons to more than 20 countries, and to many states. Everytime I return to Boston to visit I am amazed at the obvious segregation that still exisits. Even more disturbing is the attitudes that are so unchanged. Just walking down the street there is such a negative vibe between people. JP is SLIGHTLY better than other neighborhoods, but not great. My colleagues who are minorities say they wouldn't move to Boston for a job. They don't want to live in a place where they would have to think so hard about where to live or where to spend their free time. Boston is better at race relations than it was 25 years ago, but it has a long way to go, and denial of the problem continues to impede progress.