Continuing research

[ashnistrike]

Things I've successfully learned today:  40s car models, history of "first aid" as a thing that exists, how a man could end up separated from his family at the start of the WWII Japanese American internment.  I already knew that George Takei was awesome, but am reminded of it as I go through his autobiography. Clear, honest, unadorned descriptions of his time at Rohwer and Tule Lake, along with historical context and some serious blunt truth on the things you miss when you're four.

Things where I have failed at search: Can anyone recommend good resources on civil rights and interracial dynamics in late 40s Massachusetts?  I'm looking for fairly practical stuff: how much trouble will this character (who is African American) have getting into libraries, restaurants, or stores?  How segregated are most settings?  How much fuss are bystanders likely to make about an obviously interracial group wandering around?

Any insight into how people in the northeast would slot a Japanese American woman into those laws or cultural restrictions would also be awesome, but that may be something I'll need to try and infer from experiences in New Jersey.

The past is another country.  A country that is deeply fucked up.

Comments

[txanne.livejournal.com]

I have no idea, but I bet the Mass Historical Society knows.

[ashnistrike.livejournal.com]

That's a good idea. For some reason I always think of historical societies as mostly focusing on houses--which I suspect is a very Lovecraft-ish thing for me to do.

[txanne.livejournal.com]

Look what I found out about today!! Guess what I'm doing on my next day off!!!!! http://www.afroammuseum.org/index.htm I bet they know all the answers!

[ashnistrike.livejournal.com]

Ooh, they look awesome! Alas for my story, they apparently only cover through the 19th century, but definitely something to check out next time I'm on Cape.

That does remind me that the not-yet-open National Museum of African American History may have some answers as well.

[txanne.livejournal.com]

Oops, I got so excited I forgot to look at dates. OTOH they will probably be able to point you to other resources.

I thought the national museum opened a couple of years ago. Grump.

[ashnistrike.livejournal.com]

Alas, only the little visitor's center. The rest, they're still building.

[tricksterquinn.livejournal.com]

I would be pretty fascinated to hear about... most of this, actually, but particularly the history of "first aid" as a thing.

Also, as a heads up, I seem to have developed some impressive laryngitis, so whatever's up with that is probably something you guys need no part of. :-/ The last thing I want is to get anyone sick (though to be fair aside from a slightly sore throat when I wake up I feel fine).

[ashnistrike.livejournal.com]

Has been around and called other things since 1099; the actual phrase was coined in 1878. This (http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=52749) was the link I found most useful.

Sorry you are not feeling well. Hope you improve soon, and thanks for the heads up.

[tricksterquinn.livejournal.com]

Awesome, thank you for the link!

Thank you. I hope stuff is going well there!

[beamjockey.livejournal.com]

Malcolm X (1925-1965) lived in Roxbury for years, left, and returned to Boston in 1945. So biographies, or his autobiography (with Alex Haley), might be useful.

(The dates and ages given in Wikipedia don't add up.)

[ashnistrike.livejournal.com]

Ooh, thank you!