Malcolm X and Bill Russell started this stuff back in the 50’s/60’s. The busing controversies perpetuated it. Despite New England being the cradle of abolition, there was never a great migration like to Chicago. There are not a lot of black people in New England. New England people are cold to each other because that’s the culture, as it is the weather. It’s not racism, it’s a bad rap.
The friends I had in college from the 617 area code would say racist stuff that would make your skin crawl. I recall being uneasy when they would talk like that.
I am from the less urban Western MA. We all dealt with the racism of the time with a lot less vitriol.