I grew up in straight up white suburbia. I remember when my big brother was ~16 (~1969) he used the "N" word (regarding negros of african descent
)! After he was punished, he was asked why he would have anything against Blacks. Racism had certainly not be taught at home (except against the "bloody Irish" and "those Catholics"
) It seems even in our town kids were trying to imitate what was going on in the country at the time.
In Providence and especially in Boston racial tensions were very high. The forced bussing issue and race riots had clearly influence my brother and his friends to come to a predetermined position in the matter I guess. Do you think these same type of things may be having the same effect with these groups of kids?
Brian