AP+2014+P3+Southie+(or+known+as+South+Boston)



Historical - Abbie

During the time period that All Souls: A Family Story From Southie is set, South Boston was going through some of the most turbulent times in its history. The Boston Busing Crisis caused a good deal of upheaval among South Boston from 1974-1988. Greg Toppo writes about busing, stating, “In 1974, white resistance to forced busing in South Boston erupted in riots that rocked the city”(Young Rioter). Busing became required in Boston after it was ruled that segregation in schools violated the Constitution and the Civil Rights Act (40 Years Later). However, the transition to desegregated public schools was the cause of a major uproar among many residents of South Boston. Many white families were outraged by the new legislation. Donna Bivens, who lived in Boston during the Busing Crisis, states, “And I was really shocked at the tension in the city. I remember walking with my little sister in Kenmore Square and having a bottle thrown at us and I got spit at once. All over the city there was just, this, such rage and a sense of not having control over things” (40 Years Later). The conflict caused by the busing crisis took over a decade for South Boston to overcome and modified the way its students learned through its educational system.

Works Cited:

Toppo, Greg. “Young Rioter Recalls Seething in Southie”. Usatoday. 16 May 2004. Web. 6 Jan.

 2014.

Handy, Delores. “40 Years Later, Boston Looks Back On Busing Crisis”. 90.9wbur. 30 Mar.

 2012. Web. 6 Jan. 2014.



Audience - Jenna R

South Boston, or “Southie” as some referred to it, started out as a district containing an extremely diverse population with people from all backgrounds, races, and religions. The area grew exponentially as the years passed; building more businesses, homes, churches, hospitals and the like. This growth only allowed for more diversity in a population that was rapidly growing. Originally an area on a peninsula mainly used for farming, South Boston developed into an environment which citizens deemed more livable and by 1855 the district “had more dwellings than any other ward in the city” (South Boston). Beginning in the 1920’s, there was a “massive immigration from Ireland” (South Boston). The immigration changed the dynamics of the city. It became known as a working class, tough, Irish neighborhood without nearly as much diversity. The area was “...infamous in Boston for crime, drugs and general roughness” (Yuppies). The South Boston area thrived with Irish immigrants for years and diversity is steadily re-entering the neighborhood, though it has not been able to fully shed its “rough” persona as of late. The “audience” of South Boston was generally diverse with an influx of Irish immigrant residents for many years.

Works Cited: "South Boston." City of Boston. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Jan. 2014.

"Yuppies." South Boston. Emerson College, n.d. Web. 6 Jan. 2014.

Aim: Amanda Gilliland

South Boston

Explanation:

South Boston has been considered one of the more diverse, urban areas since the early 1900’s. “Southie” was a more appealing town to many immigrants, and a massive population of Irish and African American people. After the desegregation in public schools was outlawed, many riots started in the area, such as the Boston Busing Crisis. This crisis entailed people harassing African American individuals who were trying to attend public schools. “ Tim Norton grew up in South Boston, a block away from the high school. He entered ninth grade the second year of busing and says it was still intense. As a white student, he was occasionally under pressure from other white kids to stay away from South Boston High” (Handy). Issues with the illegal segregation in Southie, such as this Boston Busing Riot, affected the characters in the novel All Souls: A Family Story from Southie, because this is an issue the children would have been facing while they were attending public schools in South Boston. The riots were not the only form of violence that was present during this time. Because South Boston was a more poverty stricken area of Boston, and also an area filled with racism, crime was present in the streets in many forms: from robbing, to domestic violence. The purpose of this crime and violence in the novel is to portray the harshness of the environment the characters lived in, and give the reader insight to the motives behind many of the actions that the characters present. The author, Michael Patrick MacDonald, uses the social aspects of South Boston as this time to help enhance his portrayal of the hardships his family was faced with at this time, and to allow the reader to understand that this tragic time period left scars embedded in the memories of its inhabitants.

Visual:

Sources:

Handy, Delores.“40 Years Later, Boston Looks Back On Busing Crisis”.90.9 Wbur. 30 March 2012. Web. 7January 2014. = =

"South Boston." City of Boston. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Jan. 2014

Culture- Alexis The area of Boston affectionately known as “Southie” (South Boston), attracted a large number of European Immigrants since the early 1800s. Southie soon became home to many struggling European Immigrants as they tried to create a new life for themselves. According to the Boston Housing Authority Website, the first public housing development was created in the early 1930s, Mary Ellen McCormack (originally Old Harbor Village) was constructed as, “the first public housing development in New England and it remains one of the largest” (Boston Housing Authority). With the high concentration of Irish Immigrants in South Boston, "”Southie Pride" is on full display in March when city residents flock to the neighborhood to enjoy the annual South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade” (City of Boston). However, due to the higher number of immigrants in the area, South Boston was known as a generally ‘rough’ area for much of the 20th century (Yuppies). With the higher influx of Irish-American Immigrants, the influence of these immigrants can be seen through several buildings in Boston, to influential mayors. Works Cited: "Boston Housing Authority - Mary Ellen McCormack." Boston Housing Authority - Mary Ellen McCormack. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2014. "Yuppies." South Boston. Emerson College, n.d. Web. 6 Jan. 2014. "Cityofboston.gov - Official Web Site of the City of Boston." South Boston. City of Boston, n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2014. "Boston Housing Authority - Mary Ellen McCormack." Boston Housing Authority - Mary Ellen McCormack. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2014.