I was at a sports bar last night with a group of friends, all black, watching Game 7 of the ALCS. 2 friends were rooting for the Yanks and the other 5 (myself included) were for the Red Sox. At one point, a lovely sister came and joined us and asked us how we could pull for the Sox since Boston is the most racist city in the US. Incidentally, she was from the NYC area and was pulling for the Yanks.

My initial reaction was, "oh no, NYC doesn't have ANY race problems. I can go to Bensonhurst anytime I want, right?" And she said that was only a small part of the city. We switched topics and moved on.

I was pulling for the Sox because they were the underdog. Boston has serious race issues, but that didn't matter to me as a sports fan who was rooting for history to be made.

Which got me to thinking. Unless you're rooting for a black college team or the Globetrotters, can you find ANY team in ANY city or state that you can't make the same argument for? Hell, Chicago's racial problems didn't prevent black folk from pulling for the Bulls. There are a lot of black fans of SEC teams. You can't find any city that doesn't or hasn't had racial issues. Does that stop you from pulling for any team? Not me. Because it's pointless.

The most obvious example was in the 80's, when Bird's Celtics and Magic's Lakers were duking it out. It seemed cliche that Bird drew the white fans and Magic the black fans. But that's the only example, and it was based on the team rep, not necessarily the city rep.

Thoughts?
[Edited 10/21/04 21:16pm]

I think this belongs in the Sports & Race forum...

namepeace said:

And there it is.

I'm confused. Where did she get her info that Boston is the most racist in the U.S.???

CarrieLee said:

I was treated like shit in Boston, didn't like it AT ALL!

CarrieLee said:

I've heard this several times about Boston, but I can't remember where I heard it.

CarrieLee said:

There's clearly no scientific test for "Most Racist City," but in terms of Boston's history, it's pretty bad. It's much better than it used to be, especially in places like Cambridge, but in Boston proper, people of color are still pretty invisible in positions of power and local government, for example.

To quote:

"It IS one of the most racist cities in America.

I think the Sox franchise was once owned by a tobacco baron for many years. Never had a black employee -- even an usher -- until he died.

The last organization in Major League Baseball to break the color barrier.

The team used to hand out passes to players at its spring training home of Winter Haven to the Elks Club...a whites only Elks Club. When their long black coach at the time -- Tommy Harper -- objected, he was fired.

And, of course, there's the city itself and its history.



It's a nice city, especially when the colleges are in session, and perhaps the perception of racism lags behind reality. But, that's the penalty the city must pay."

Byron said:

Some of the ugly truth right there. (Except I hate it when college is in session! Go home, students! )

Who's the quote from, Byron?

I think in the instance of sports you have to seperate out the teams from the actual city itself. They are completely seperate entities.

All pro sports teams are independently owned and opereated and almost always never have anything to do with the politics and issues in their particular city. Pro sports teams are not elected, nor do they make policy. laws, or regulations.

The city does not own the team. The city does not manage or have any say in the makeup of the players or coaches on the team.

Many times the owners are not from the city the particular team may play in. Most of the players and managers are not from that city, or even state.

I think they are completely seperate issue and entities and if you support say the Boston Red Sox does not mean in any way you support racism. It just means you support a pro sports team that happens to play their home games in Boston.

FunkMistress said:

Well I'm white and I've been harrassed too... Perhaps Boston is just too uptight, I've always said that. But to be honest, the places I go everyone is the same. We don't care what color you are, how much money you make, where you live....it's all good if you're a good person.

CarrieLee said:

*What does this have to do with Boston being racist?

FunkMistress said:

You said "people of color". Technically I"m not considered a person "with color" and I'm saying that I too have been treated like shit in the city. That's all.

CarrieLee said:

Okay. I'm not trying to start a fight with you. It's just that I don't really understand why, in discussions where racism is brought up, some white people feel the need to say, "hey, I've been mistreated too!"

FunkMistress said:

Well some of us have. Perhaps not to the extent that you or other black people have experienced.

I think I was just trying to convey that Boston is a very uptight city in some areas. I love it here and it hurts to know that Boston is considered to be the most racist. I'm certainly not one of them and I don't converse with those who are. My group loves everyone, and I'll go as far to say we even love SOME Yankee fans

CarrieLee said:

I'm not black.

And I don't love any Yankees fans! Traitor!

FunkMistress said:

HAHAHA whoops! On both parts!

Gotta admit, that issue did cross my mind.
Re: Bensonhurst...Remember Yusuf Hawkins?

My sports affiliation has never been relegated to what the city stands for....I am a Larry Bird fan as well as anybody else who has talent in any aspect of life....now as to the issue with Boston itself....it is definitely NOT on my top 100 million places to ever visit!! Shit...simply living in AmeriKKKa is fuckin enough!!!