All three of the New England states where I have lived have a problem with race.
The economic disparity of American racism is on full display in Connecticut, my birthplace. The Constitution State has historically been the top per-capita income state in the country, with four of the nation's poorest cities, where the people of color live.
Boston has been dragged kicking and screaming into racial harmony, from Elijah "Pumpsie" Green to public school busing, to the ongoing slow pace of economic development in blighted minority neighborhoods.
There are some hardcore, KKK-like racists in New Hampshire. If you have lived here long enough, you have probably seen them. The classic sighting is two white guys in a pickup truck, with two big stars and bars flags flying from either side of the truck bed.
But most New Hampshire racists have prejudice based in ignorance. Just a sampling of quotes from working folk and professionals in my 3-plus years in the state prove the point:
- "Yeah, some of the worst niggers I know are white." -white male, construction worker, commenting on lack of racial diversity in New Hampshire
- "I don't know what you are, but you sure are beautiful." -white male, doctor, trying to put move on woman of color
- "When we were little, do you know what we called these? Nigger babies." -white woman, state of New Hampshire supervisory-level employee, commenting in the workplace to several colleagues about Chocolate Baby candies
Earl Wilson, left, the first black Red Sox pitcher, and Elijah "Pumpsie" Green, the first black Red Sox fielder, hang out in the dugout on Aug. 30, 1959. A decade earlier, the Red Sox held tryouts for Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays, declining to sign both Hall of Famers. /Leslie Jones photo via Boston Public Library
No comments:
Post a Comment