Columns, Opinion

EDITORIAL: Erasing Boston’s racist past one street at a time

The name Yawkey elicits a variety of emotions from Boston and Massachusetts residents.

Yawkey Way, the street that runs parallel to the Fenway Park, the home of the Boston Red Sox, has been disputed for several years now because of the racist ties of the man for whom the street is named. The late Tom Yawkey was the owner of the Red Sox in the the mid-1900s, and  is now widely known for his racism, notably refusing to employ black players and managers onto the team.

But other locals, including Red Sox players, admire Yawkey, who is also known for his philanthropy and leaving a legacy through his generous contributions to several Boston area projects and buildings, many of which still stand today — including the Yawkey Center at Boston University.

On Thursday, the Public Improvement Commission, the organization responsible for making the decision about renaming the street, held a hearing to gather more opinions on the subject, with some defending the Yawkey name and with others taking a strong stance to rename it back to its original name: Jersey Street. The Commission is expected to make a decision at the end of the month to officially get rid of the Yawkey Way street name.

However, the negative connotations people have with Yawkey coupled with Boston’s reputation for being racist deem renaming the street a necessary measure for the commission and the City to take. After all, the Red Sox was the last team to integrate in 1959, decades after other teams did the same. Boston is notorious for ignoring its racist past and acting progressive despite it. But in order to rectify its issues with racism, Boston needs to send a stronger message of inclusivity and show support for all of its marginalized communities.

One of Yawkey’s close friends spoke in defense of his legacy and his name at the hearing, claiming that such racist allegations are a part of a “false narrative.” We’ve heard this same justification from the current presidential administration, and it rings familiar with Kellyanne Conway’s infamous ideas about “alternative facts.” We can’t have people saying Yawkey’s history of racism is just a false narrative, and blame the media for skewing it this way. The fact of the matter is that Yawkey was racist, at the very least, didn’t prevent racism at his stadium.

Of course, we have to use appropriate discretion for things like this. It’s possible for good people to do bad things, but that doesn’t make it justifiable. There were certainly many other prominent figures who held similar racist sentiments at the time. But that doesn’t make Yawkey’s actions any more excusable. In the same vein, Yakwey’s charitable contributions don’t excuse his racism either. There have been many American figures in history who have accomplished many great things for this country and held racist views.

However, these racist messages are no longer reflective of current values. Many statues of confederate leaders across the South and the nation have been removed in the past year because they are symbols of hatred and discrimination. As a city in the Northeast, Boston should follow in these footsteps and physically remove its reminders of these problematic figures.

Excluding and discriminating someone based on the color of their skin should not be accepted in today’s society. With countless people of color still facing systemic racism, whether it’s in the prison system or other everyday interactions, it’s time for Boston to step up and send the message that this behavior is not tolerated in this city, as it shouldn’t be for this country.

Yawkey Way should not be the image of the Red Sox. With many incidents surrounding the topic of racism in the stadium, from racial slurs being chanted in the crowds and the unfurling of a banner calling for an end to racism, there is a feeling of tension in Fenway. It’s evident that many Bostonians don’t want this reputation anymore and are trying to take action. Officials should be mindful of this and usher a new era of inclusivity by renaming the street that so many Bostonians and fans walk past daily.

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One Comment

  1. so in this vein, shouldn’t BU rename the Yawkey Center? i vote for making “Baestate” its official title.