Let's see if we can find some things that we can agree on (or can't) and go from there. I'm going to throw out some statements that I think are fairly non-controversial, and you all can tell me where I'm wrong.
- All cities are racist to a certain degree, including Boston
- Boston seems to have a reputation for being more racist than other comparable cities in the US
- It is not clear whether or not that reputation is valid beyond anecdotal evidence, however
- In order to advance conversations about 'how racist is Boston compared to x' we need some means of measuring that beyond individual experiences
- That said, individual experiences can be totally relevant when it comes to discussing potential solutions to specific forms that more racism can take, and understanding how racism affects people
- Institutional racism made famous in situations like the busing riots and red-lining are distinct from, but related to, the personal racism that may or may not be more common in Bostonians than citizens of other cities
- The former should be easier to measure than the latter
- Conversation about racism is awkward, at times heated, and generally uncomfortable, but still worth having
- The first step is admitting that we (as individuals, and as a community of Bostonians) have a problem