So I live in Boston, MA and there's a rumor going around thru town that the Charlie pass, which is like a 'metro card', are based on some racist means. I don't know much that's why I'm asking to seek clarification.
2007-05-23 02:53:56 · 8 answers · asked by Krazy01_01 2 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Boston
The Charlie Card is namely based on a song "Charlie on the MTA", It was written by Jacqueline Steiner and Bess Lomax Hawes in 1948 about a man named Charlie trapped on Boston's subway system, which was then known as the MTA. Supposedly Charlie could not get off of the subway because he was short of money (you paid when you got off then, instead of before like now).
Dropkick Murphys (a punk band native to Boston) made a variation of the song, "Skinhead on the MBTA", that replaced Charlie with a skinhead on the cover for their album Do or Die.
That's about the only racist correlation that I know of.
2007-05-23 03:58:19 · answer #1 · answered by Pitchow! 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Boston T Passes
2016-11-02 21:27:26 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are multiple issues with the charlie cards, None would seem to be specifically racist (as how would they know the color of the skin of the person purchasing it from the machine) but one could argue all the sum of all the problems and the MBTA's handling of them shows a blatant disregard to urban commuters, whihc includes many blacks and latinos.
1) The MBTA makes company pass programs pay for the cards a full month in advance, allowing the MBTA to collect and keep interest on all that money for a full 30 days before they even give the cards out.
2) There have been multiple double/triple billing problems whihc the MBTA has tried to keep quiet and out of the press.
3) Cards with a remaining balance are not refundable, meaning that if you have paper card with anywhere between $0.01- $1.49- It's virtually useless- and they keep the money
All in all the MBTA was a refuge for politicians stupid relatives for years (ones whom they couldn't get cushier jobs for) and for crooked unions, and we pay the price for it.
2007-05-23 16:42:00 · answer #3 · answered by pavano_carl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No that's utterly absurd. There may be a few problems with them and dislike for some of the options, but this sounds like some Sharpton wannabe trying to stir up trouble where there is none, or a very poor attempt at satirical humor.
2007-05-25 04:12:52 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Charlie Brown is an emo sociopath.
2016-05-20 22:25:12 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so. . . It's because of an OLD song about a man named Charlie who was riding the train. . . . .Never heard of such a thing.
2007-05-24 04:57:28 · answer #6 · answered by ShouldBeWorking 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
do not believe any rumor,may yes may be not,the problem is ,when You pay attention to rumor You may be come part of a mob.
and all the Mobs in the world are in essence....racist.
2007-05-23 03:02:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Nah , The T 's to chill for that, dude.
2007-05-24 20:19:02 · answer #8 · answered by mike o 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋