“I’ve been here over 30 years, and I still say I’m from somewhere else.”
When can you say you’re “from Boston”? It’s a question we recently discovered can be surprisingly difficult to answer.
Boston’s identity is often framed through its connection to Revolutionary times, but not everyone relates to this narrative.
“The traditional marketing of Boston is very Paul Revere on the night ride, and I wish they would broaden the lens more,” said Kaylicia Merisier, a lifelong resident of Mattapan. Merisier said her lived experience as a Black Bostonian is distinct from the city’s mainstream image.
For newcomer Amin Karmali, the transition to becoming a Bostonian feels deeply personal. “Being a true Bostonian is when you feel that this is your home, and you can’t imagine yourself living anywhere else,” he said. “It’s when you find something that keeps you here.”
When we asked Boston.com readers to weigh in on the designation, more than 100 readers responded.
For some readers, the answer is clear-cut: being born in one of Boston’s neighborhoods is a non-negotiable. For others, it’s about how much of the city’s culture you’ve embraced—riding the T, rooting for the Red Sox, and respecting the sacred space saver in a shoveled-out parking spot.