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History of public housing in South Boston

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; of a black and white photo of a racially diverse group of children outside of the Cathedral Project in the South End in the 1960s. Kelly notes that the minority population in Boston's public housing doubled in the 1960s. V: Shots of African American students walking home from school; of an African American, Visual: Footage of Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) at the D Street Housing Project in South Boston in 1983. Flynn talks to project residents. Hope Kelly reports that Flynn announced his candidacy for mayor at a South Boston Housing Project in 1983; that there were no African American families in any South Boston housing projects in 1983; that there are still no African American families in South Boston projects in 1987. V: Shots of a white woman standing at the entrance to a project building; of a white woman looking out of the window of a project apartment. Aerial shot of a housing project
Summary
Hope Kelly reviews the history of public housing in Boston. Kelly notes that the first public housing project was built in South Boston in the 1930s. She adds that the tenants were all white. Kelly reports that the public housing projects in South Boston remained white even as the non-white tenant population grew in the rest of the city... more
Date Created
10/29/1987
Media
Log

South Boston housing projects

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Visual: Footage of a white male South Boston resident saying that violence resulted from forced busing and "forced beaching." Footage of a white female South Boston resident speaking from the window of her project apartment. She says that she would prefer the neighborhood to remain white; that a racial war may erupt if non-whites move in. Shots of the Old Colony Housing Project in South Boston; of a sign reading, "Old Colony Public Housing Development." Meg Vaillancourt reports that there are close to 2400 families living in the Old Colony Housing Project; that 39 families are Latino, Asian, Project next year. V: Shot of Flynn speaking to a reporter. Footage of a white female South Boston resident saying that the Mission Hill Housing Project was once a nice place to live; that housing projects decline when African American families move in. Footage of a white female resident saying
Summary
Meg Vaillancourt reports that Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) has pledged to integrate public housing projects in South Boston by next year. Vaillancourt notes that there are no African American families among the 2400 families living in the Old Colony Housing Project in South Boston. Vaillancourt interviews Flynn. Flynn says that the housing projects will be integrated in a responsible manner... more
Date Created
10/29/1987
Media
Log

South Boston High School

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Visual: Shots of East 6th Street in South Boston. Boston harbor is visible in the distance. Boston Police Department trucks are parked on G Street in front of South Boston High School. Graffiti in large white letters on the pavement of G Street reads, "Go home Jerome. You failed." (Graffiti refers to South Boston High School Headmaster Jerome Wynegar.) Police are gathered in groups along G Street. V: A police cruiser with flashing lights leads two yellow school buses up East 6th Street. The buses head toward the high school, directed by a police officer. African American and white members of a girls softball team are gathered on the steps of the high school. Police officers, other students and school officials are also on the steps. Eric Van Loon (attorney for the plaintiffs, Morgan v. Hennigan) stands on the steps, talking to an African American woman and two African American men
Summary
Graffiti written in large white letters on G Street reads, "Go home, Jerome. You failed." (Graffiti refers to South Boston High School Headmaster Jerome Wynegar.) African American and white members of a girls' softball team stand on the steps outside of South Boston High School. A few school officials, police officers and others, including Eric Van Loon (attorney for the plaintiffs, Morgan v. Hennigan), are gathered on the steps of the school... more
Date Created
05/12/1977
Media
Log

Kevin White talks about anti-busing sentiment in South Boston

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Mayor White if the city is getting cooperation from some moderates in South Boston. White responds that the moderate leaders must assert themselves over the groups causing disruption. A reporter asks Mayor White what it will take to end the white boycott of schools. White responds that it will take some, Visual: Opening title reads Compass Special: Boston School Report. Paul deGive reports on the day's events from press conference at Boston City Hall: a ban on a protest march by South Boston residents; 20 arrests. Frank Tivnan (Director of Communications for Mayor Kevin White) thanks the media for the opportunity to report the day's events to the public. Tivnan reports no serious injuries to Boston residents or to children on school buses. Tivnan commends the police department for managing crowds in South Boston. Tivnan reports an increase in school attendance. V: John Coakley (Boston School
Summary
Kevin White talks about anti-busing sentiment in South Boston
Date Created
09/16/1974
Media
Video, Log
Program
The Ten O'Clock News / Boston School Report

An angry crowd gathers at South Boston High School following the stabbing of a student

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Carter (Governor, State of Georgia) announced his candidacy for president; that Carter promises to end secrecy in government and the "cozy relations" between government officials and industry. Baumeister reports that yesterday's violence at South Boston High School will have long-range repercussions on the court-ordered desegregation of Boston schools; that the Boston School Committee has five days left to file a long-range desegregation plan in court. Baumeister introduces a report on the violence by Judy Stoia. Stoia reports that tension in South Boston High School had been, of South Boston High School; of helmeted police officers standing among the crowd. Shots of photographs of middle-aged women among the crowd. Stoia reports that 1500 people had gathered in front of the school by 1:00 pm; that the crowd was waiting for the arrival of school buses to pick up the African
Summary
An angry crowd gathers at South Boston High School following the stabbing of a student
Date Created
12/12/1974
Media
Video, Log
Program
Evening Compass, The / Evening Compass broadcast

South Boston residents oppose housing integration

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Visual: Footage of Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) approaching the stage at a community meeting in South Boston. A noisy crowd yells and boos. The audience is seated at long tables. Footage of Leo Tierney (South Boston resident) saying that apartments in Roxbury should go to Roxbury residents. Tierney says, "Leave us the hell alone. Leave the blacks alone. Leave us to live in peace." The crowd cheers. Members of the crowd rise to their feet to cheer. Christopher Lydon reports that James Kelly (Boston City Council) addressed the crowd of South Boston residents at a community meeting; that Kelly stirred the emotions of the crowd by linking public housing integration to the memories of school desegregation in the 1970s. V: Footage of Kelly saying that "misguided" youth and adults will engage in violence if the public housing projects are integrated; that some South Boston residents will serve time
Summary
James Kelly and Ray Flynn at a South Boston meeting on public housing integration
Date Created
01/12/1988
Media
Video, Log

Interview with South Boston High School teachers

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Boston Police Department vehicles are lined up along the side of the road in South Boston. A mounted police officer exercises his horse. A horse stands in a yard with grass. Visual: Boston Police Department vehicles are parked in the schoolyard of South Boston High School. Police are gathered along G Street in front of the high school. Shot of the exterior of South Boston High School. A Massachusetts State Police vehicle is parked in the schoolyard. A Boston Police station wagon is parked on G Street. V: Buses pull up in front of South Boston High School. The buses, down G Street with the police escort. V: Shot of the exterior of South Boston High School. Pam Bullard exits the high school, followed by four white teachers. She sets up an interview in front of the school with Jerry Power (teacher, South Boston High School), Bob Healey (teacher, South
Summary
South Boston High School teachers discuss the atmosphere at the school in 1976
Date Created
11/01/1976
Media
Video, Log

South Boston community meeting about housing desegregation

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Visual: Shot of a white woman standing at the entrance to a housing project building in South Boston. Audio of Neil Sullivan (Policy Advisor to Mayor Ray Flynn) saying that the people of South Boston understand discrimination. Meg Vaillancourt reports that residents of South Boston may understand discrimination; that some residents of South Boston also practice discrimination. Vaillancourt reports that the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) discriminates against African American families; that no African American families live in any of the three public housing projects in South Boston. V: Shots of a white woman looking out of a window of an apartment in a housing project; of the Old Colony Housing Project in South Boston; of a sign reading, "Old Colony Public Housing Development." Shots of white project residents outside of a project building. Vaillancourt reports that African American families were
Summary
Meg Vaillancourt reports that Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) has promised to integrate public housing projects in South Boston and to put a stop to discriminatory practices by the Boston Housing Authority (BHA). Vaillancourt notes that African American families have been passed over on the waiting list for apartments in South Boston housing projects... more
Date Created
01/13/1988
Media
Log

Officials visit South Boston High School

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Visual: Jerome Wynegar (Headmaster, South Boston High School) stands in the auditorium of South Boston High School. City and state officials including Laval Wilson (Superintendent of Schools), John Nucci (President, Boston School Committee), Ray Flynn (Mayor, City of Boston), Gerry D'Amico (State Senator), and Michael Dukakis (Governor of Massachusetts) are visiting South Boston High School on the day after Arthur Garrity (federal judge) has withdrawn from his supervisory role over the Boston Public Schools. Wynegar introduces the officials who are standing with him in front of the stage. Wynegar, introduces Dukakis and Wilson to two female teachers who are standing in the hallway. Nucci and Indelicato stand with Wynegar, Dukakis, and Wilson. V: Wynegar, Nucci, Dukakis, Wilson, Indelicato and others walk through the hallways of South Boston High School. Wilson speaks to an African
Summary
Jerome Wynegar (Headmaster, South Boston High School) welcomes Laval Wilson (Superintendent of Schools), John Nucci (President, Boston School Committee), Ray Flynn (Mayor, City of Boston), Gerry D'Amico (State Senator), and Michael Dukakis (Governor of Massachusetts) to South Boston High School... more
Date Created
09/05/1985
Media
Log

South Boston residents talk about housing integration

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Visual: Footage of a white female South Boston resident looking out of the window of a housing project apartment. The woman says that she would like her neighborhood to remain white. Meg Vaillancourt reports that South Boston residents remain hostile to the idea of integration of public housing projects. V: Shots of white residents outside of a housing project in South Boston. Footage of a white female resident saying that South Boston should stay white; that there will be trouble if the housing projects are integrated. Footage of another white female South Boston resident saying that white residents have not received fair warning about the placement of African American families in white housing projects. Shots of white children playing with a hose outside of a housing project in South Boston. Vaillancourt reports that Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) announced plans to integrate South Boston
Summary
Meg Vaillancourt reports that South Boston residents are opposed to the city's plans to integrate public housing projects. Vaillancourt notes that residents were hostile to Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) when he attended a community meeting in South Boston to discuss plans for integration. Vaillancourt's report includes footage of Flynn and Doris Bunte (Boston Housing Authority) at the community meeting. The audience jeers at Flynn... more
Date Created
06/16/1988
Media
Log
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