That 617 Life Podcast: Reaction to Marc Spears' article on being a black player in Boston

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Marc Spears of The Undefeated recently penned an article about the city of Boston's complicated history with race from a (mostly) basketball perspective.

Spears details stories from Bill Russell, Marcus Smart and Dee Brown, among others, sharing some of the encounters they had while playing in Boston for the Celtics.

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On the latest episode of the That 617 Life Podcast, Leroy Irvin, Cerrone Battle and Shanda Foster discussed the issues the article brought up and had an open forum about race and the city.

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The co-hosts all seemed to agree that Boston was evolving, as Spears communicated at the end of his article. To Foster's point, the city has "gotten better" in terms of racism. But she also noted that having honest conversations about the city's current and past issues with racism is still important.

I think it's gotten better and I hope that the media continues to shed a little bit more light, and us as people who live here are able to just speak to it and be honest. Because you know what? They're not wrong. They're not wrong.

Battle agreed with Foster's point and mentioned that increased representation of people of color in the media is starting to shift how race relations are covered, and how people are becoming more comfortable with the topic of race.

I think one of the things that's happening recently, and you mentioned the media, a lot of the changes in around the city whether it be local news or regional news, you're seeing more minorities. You're seeing more minorities not just on air, but behind the production. Behind the content. And you don't have the people speaking on our behalf. You have us speaking for us. I know it might seem small, but when you see people who may look more like you on TV more, or people who are used to seeing black faces on TV, the more you see it, the more comfortable you are.

Battle also pointed to shifting demographics in Boston's neighborhoods as another way that people are "getting more comfortable."

Boston's always claimed of being so diverse. 'Oh my god, we're one of the most diverse cities in the world!' Yet it was still very segregated. But the more people are spilling into other neighborhoods, some by choice and some not by choice, the more people are starting to get comfortable with it.

For more of That 617 Life Podcast's discussion on race and what numbers the Celtics should retire ahead of Ray Allen's, you can click here to listen and subscribe to That 617 Life Podcast.

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