Roxbury

=Roxbury, Massachusetts= = = =Historical Context= Cody Notbohm Similar to the cultural aspects, Roxbury, Massachusetts boasts communities consisting of overwhelming diversity historically. Mainly due to the influx of various immigrants like Germans, Jews, Irish and Englishmen is when this town, annexed to Boston, experienced a new norm in regards to typical day jobs. With the northern portion made up of mainly immigrants, the region eventually became extremely industrial in the 19th century through the form of mills, tanneries and other specialized factories. The availability of new jobs and opportunities created new communities, rather suburbs, for the incoming immigrants. For instance, “In the early 20th century, Roxbury diversified with the establishment of a Jewish community in the Grove Hall area along Blue Hill Avenue” (Roxbury’s History). On the contrast, contributing to the town’s diversity, Roxbury remains majorly agricultural. Since the 17th and 18th centuries, farming was and still continues to be the basis of Roxbury’s economy. Obviously “diversified,” Roxbury’s distinguished availability of contrasting jobs supports the fact that Roxbury is a very distinct region among other Boston annexations. Furthermore, urbanization in the mid-1800’s “diversified” Roxbury to an even larger extent. To support, “Following the shift of Boston’s Black community from Beacon Hill and the South End and a massive migration from Southern states to northern cities in the 1940’s and 1950’s, Roxbury became the center” of diverse community (Drake 102). Due to the presence of “Boston’s Black community” and other southerners, Roxbury is now home to two more ethnic groups. Moreover, the factors of urbanization and industrialization confirm the city’s diversity with components like race and occupation. From subsistent farming to “massive migration,” Roxbury, Massachusetts historically represents a region containing many elements of diversity.

Works Cited Drake, Francis S. //The Town of Roxbury Its Memorable Persons and Places, Its History and Antiquities, with Numerous Illustrations of Its Old Landmarks and Noted Personages.// Roxbury: Pub. by the Author, 1878. Print. "Roxbury's History." //Roxbury's History//. Discover Roxbury, Jan. 2012. Web. 08 Jan. 2013.

=Cultural= Caelyn Buller

The Irish mob began to form in the 20th century with many immigrants. There were immigrants from certain that lived in this part of Boston. Many immigrants there were described as, “Roxbury was a community of English, Irish, and German immigrants and their descendants” (Menino 6). The cultural impact that Roxbury had was forming the Irish Mob. With all of the immigrants that decided to migrate to this part of Boston, people from Ireland decided to settle there and have kids, leading to more of them being there. The Irish population affected the culture in the sense that there were so many Irish people there. Culturally the population plays a major role in the formation of this southie area mob. Overall, culturally Roxberry had a part due to the immigrants being mainly Irish at that time. Roxbury made an impact with the Irish Mob also because it has a certain type of build as a city. It was urbanized before the formation of the mob, making it to perfect place to estabish the mob. In terms of Roxbury it's recored that, "Commerce centered at Dudley Station, where Washington, Warren, and Dudley streets cross. By the turn of the 20th century, the area had a bustling mix of department stores, residential hotels, silent movie theaters, banks, and even a bowling alley, all designed by prominent Boston architects in a rich mixture of revival styles" (Roxbury's History). Having their headquarters based in Roxbury was a good place considering it being centered around this train station. This town had a cultural impact on the mob because it made it easy for mobsters to travel to and from Roxbury quick, even to skip town if needed. The very busy town with all of the movie theaters, stores were the perfect breeding ground for then to give people loans for opening shop. Once they did this if the person did not pay back the money it would allow for them to take them out quickly. Roxbury's cultural impact in this sense was it was a booming town in Boston that allowed for them to go unnoticed for a while.

Work Cited:

Menino, Thomas M. "Roxbury: Exploring Boston's Neighorhoods." City of Boston. Boston Landmarks Commission, 1995. Web. 7 Jan. 2013.

"Roxbury's History." Discover Roxbury. Discover Roxbury, 08 Jan. 2013. Web. 08 Jan. 2013.

=Aim= Elena The city of Roxbury, notorious for its violent and dangerous history was a harsh environment in which to grow up and establish a successful life during the mid to late 1900s. Roxbury, once a city and now a section of the city of Boston, was established as a farming community by settlers in the 17th century. Soon the town went through a boom and the population quickly increased. By the 1800s, "immigrants from Europe, Ireland and Germany began flooding" the area (Roxbury History). The suburbanization of Roxbury and its proximity to Boston made it an ideal location in which to live and work. Immigrants realized Roxbury's rate of growth and it became a popular destination for newcomers to America and Americans from other states as well. Towards the middle of the 20th century, American civil rights came to a head, causing a "massive migration" (Roxbuy's History) to cities and neighborhoods farther north, causing the demographics of Roxbury to change quickly. It soon became a hub for African Americans to live and find work. With the battle for equal rights came protests and throughout the next several decades came a decline of the city. Violence increased, along with riots as a result of the assassinations of major civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. Before long, arson spread throughout the city. It was because of this that many, including an illegal and dangerous organization - the Irish Mob - saw Roxbury as an easy target for Americans who were desperate for a way out. Living in a crumbling, violent, often-burning city sparked a new type of lifestyle. Because of Roxbury's degradation, those living in and around the city were more willing to do what it took to have a better life. This, following a cyclical pattern, led to more violence and illegal activity because people were desperate for a way out. Roxbury's decline lasted throughout most of the 20th century until the late 1990s when the Roxbury subway system was reorganized and subsequently caused a commercial revitalization of the companies and employers of Roxbury.

Works Cited: "Roxbury History." //Roxbury History //. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2013. "Roxbury's History." //Roxbury's History //. N.p., 07 Jan. 2013. Web. 07 Jan. 2013.

=Audience= Jason Gomez English settlers first founded Roxbury in 1640 as an independent city but with connections to the city of Boston. Roxbury then became a town that many migrated to for its farmland and smaller population. Boston’s Landmarks Commission released a history of the city of Roxbury and spoke about the early population of the city, stating, “Until about 1900, Roxbury was a community of English, Iris, and German immigrants and their descendants” (Boston’s Landmarks Commission). As time went on, Roxbury became a community of Irish, English, and German with deep cultural roots that helped shape the foundation of the city. The town then gained a Jewish population in the early 1900s, but then grew even more diverse in the 1940s and 1950s. A massive migration from southern to northern cities happened in the 1940s and 1950s, therefore causing Roxbury to become the African-American community of Boston. From the point on, Roxbury became the center for the majority of African-Americans in the Boston area, but due to the urbanization of the city, Roxbury also had become one of the poorest and run down cities. Many of the residents of Roxbury past the 1940s did not gain much money and many lived a poor lifestyle. Also due to the majority of the city being African-American, many did not treat them as equals due to the culture of the United States with segregation. The residents fought for equality, which caused for violence to spread throughout the city, one of the largest events being the riot prior to Martin Luther King Jr’s death and causing arson to spread in the city. Also during that time, the Irish mob became highly present during this time, which only caused more violence to spread throughout the already violent city. The city evolved from a prosperous agriculture city in the 1600s to a poor and violent neighborhood primarily comprised of African-Americans and the Irish mob by the mid 1900s.

Works Cited

"Arthur Grace." //Black Family Portrait, Roxbury, Massachusetts, 1974//. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Jan. 2013.

Boston Landmarks Commission. "Roxbury History." //Roxbury History//. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Jan. 2013.

"Early Families of Roxbury, Massachusetts." //Geni_family_tree//. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Jan. 2013.