General Urban Cambridge Updates and Rumours

[Bytor]

Here’s an alternate scenario: suppose I regularly get accosted by people when I go to downtown Cambridge. Eventually I start telling people “I’m not going to downtown Cambridge because I don’t want some Black guy to accost me”. Is that appropriate?

Now obviously, in this scenario, there is a good chance that I’m actually a racist or at least somewhat racist who notices when a Black guy accosts me but doesn’t notice when somebody else accosts me (or at least, doesn’t notice their skin colour). But it is also possible, and certainly true in some times and places, that all or most of the people doing the accosting really are Black. Even in this situation, though, is it really helpful for me to include the word “Black” in what I say? Presumably I would also stop going to downtown Cambridge if I was getting accosted entirely by white guys. So what is important is that I’m being accosted by people when I go there.

At the same time, I think it is reasonable to ask certain demographic questions about the NIMBYs. Are they recent immigrants who don’t want the next batch of immigrants to move in next to them? Or are they the descendants of 18th century immigrants? Or something else? Of course it sounds like they are likely the 2nd of those options. But insisting on characterizing them by race feels like it’s tarring everybody else with the criticism.

No it's not appropriate because of one reason: documentary evidence.

As you say, your perception of who is accosting you may very well be biased and as such is only an anecdote rather than reliable data. While visible minorities are over represented in the homeless population, the majority of them are still white people so for you to say “I’m not going to downtown Cambridge because I don’t want some Black guy to accost me” is evidence of that bias and an example of racism because your perception is not based upon reality.

However, all we have to do is look at the photos of the NIMBYs in the papers, look at the the videos of the NIMBYs as they make their delegations to council, we can see whom the news reports go an interview for "local flavour". Overwhelmingly, these people are older and white. Noting that is simply noting an actual fact, and it is important that it get noted in the broader context of systemic racism in out society.

We can only fix it if we note it and admit that it is there.