Mieka Brand Polanco
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- March 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780814762882
- eISBN:
- 9780814724743
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- NYU Press
- DOI:
- 10.18574/nyu/9780814762882.001.0001
- Subject:
- Anthropology, American and Canadian Cultural Anthropology
This book examines the concept of community in the United States: how communities are experienced and understood, the complex relationship between human beings and their social and physical ...
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This book examines the concept of community in the United States: how communities are experienced and understood, the complex relationship between human beings and their social and physical landscapes—and how the term “community” is sometimes conjured to feign a cohesiveness that may not actually exist. Drawing on ethnographic and historical materials from Union, Virginia, the book offers a nuanced and sensitive portrait of a federally recognized Historic District under the category “Ethnic Heritage—Black.” Since Union has been home to a racially mixed population since at least the late 19th century, calling it “historically black” poses some curious existential questions to the black residents who currently live there. Union's identity as a “historically black community” encourages a perception of the town as a monochromatic and monohistoric landscape, effectively erasing both old-timer white residents and newcomer black residents while allowing newer white residents to take on a proud role as preservers of history. Gestures to “community” gloss an oversimplified perspective of race, history, and space that conceals much of the richness (and contention) of lived reality in Union, as well as in the larger United States. They allow Americans to avoid important conversations about the complex and unfolding nature by which groups of people and social/physical landscapes are conceptualized as a single unified whole. This multi-layered, multi-textured ethnography explores a key concept, inviting public conversation about the dynamic ways in which race, space, and history inform our experiences and understanding of community.Less
This book examines the concept of community in the United States: how communities are experienced and understood, the complex relationship between human beings and their social and physical landscapes—and how the term “community” is sometimes conjured to feign a cohesiveness that may not actually exist. Drawing on ethnographic and historical materials from Union, Virginia, the book offers a nuanced and sensitive portrait of a federally recognized Historic District under the category “Ethnic Heritage—Black.” Since Union has been home to a racially mixed population since at least the late 19th century, calling it “historically black” poses some curious existential questions to the black residents who currently live there. Union's identity as a “historically black community” encourages a perception of the town as a monochromatic and monohistoric landscape, effectively erasing both old-timer white residents and newcomer black residents while allowing newer white residents to take on a proud role as preservers of history. Gestures to “community” gloss an oversimplified perspective of race, history, and space that conceals much of the richness (and contention) of lived reality in Union, as well as in the larger United States. They allow Americans to avoid important conversations about the complex and unfolding nature by which groups of people and social/physical landscapes are conceptualized as a single unified whole. This multi-layered, multi-textured ethnography explores a key concept, inviting public conversation about the dynamic ways in which race, space, and history inform our experiences and understanding of community.
Karen R. Miller
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- March 2016
- ISBN:
- 9781479880096
- eISBN:
- 9781479803637
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- NYU Press
- DOI:
- 10.18574/nyu/9781479880096.003.0008
- Subject:
- History, Economic History
This chapter examines debates about race, slum clearance, and low-income housing during the 1930s, wherein both white racial liberals and black residents were testing the federal promise that “better ...
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This chapter examines debates about race, slum clearance, and low-income housing during the 1930s, wherein both white racial liberals and black residents were testing the federal promise that “better housing makes better citizens.” Public administrators were interested in uplifting white as well as black working-class families. However, for them, the project of producing better citizens was connected to white, not black, tenants of the new buildings in subtle yet clear terms. This distinction between housing all members of the American working class, making “better citizens” out of white families and state recipients out of black residents, began well before publicly funded housing programs opened their doors.Less
This chapter examines debates about race, slum clearance, and low-income housing during the 1930s, wherein both white racial liberals and black residents were testing the federal promise that “better housing makes better citizens.” Public administrators were interested in uplifting white as well as black working-class families. However, for them, the project of producing better citizens was connected to white, not black, tenants of the new buildings in subtle yet clear terms. This distinction between housing all members of the American working class, making “better citizens” out of white families and state recipients out of black residents, began well before publicly funded housing programs opened their doors.
Leah Platt Boustan
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- January 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780691150871
- eISBN:
- 9781400882977
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691150871.003.0001
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Economic History
This introductory chapter outlines the central themes and methodologies underpinning this book. It discusses the factors for slow black economic progress in the North following the Great Black ...
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This introductory chapter outlines the central themes and methodologies underpinning this book. It discusses the factors for slow black economic progress in the North following the Great Black Migration. Despite the promise of the North and despite optimistic predictions, black migration to industrial cities did not lead to economic parity with whites either for the migrants themselves or for their children during the mid-twentieth century. This chapter introduces a new element to the story by pointing out that that the persistent influx of black migrants to northern labor and housing markets had created competition for existing black residents in an economic setting already constrained by weakening labor demand and northern racism.Less
This introductory chapter outlines the central themes and methodologies underpinning this book. It discusses the factors for slow black economic progress in the North following the Great Black Migration. Despite the promise of the North and despite optimistic predictions, black migration to industrial cities did not lead to economic parity with whites either for the migrants themselves or for their children during the mid-twentieth century. This chapter introduces a new element to the story by pointing out that that the persistent influx of black migrants to northern labor and housing markets had created competition for existing black residents in an economic setting already constrained by weakening labor demand and northern racism.
William W. Goldsmith
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- May 2017
- ISBN:
- 9781501704314
- eISBN:
- 9781501706035
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Cornell University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7591/cornell/9781501704314.003.0007
- Subject:
- Sociology, Urban and Rural Studies
This chapter focuses on the drug war. Those who enforce drug laws attack inner-city neighborhoods directly, drastically disrupting the lives of poor black and Latino residents. Cities at their best ...
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This chapter focuses on the drug war. Those who enforce drug laws attack inner-city neighborhoods directly, drastically disrupting the lives of poor black and Latino residents. Cities at their best are highly productive and just, but the drug war powerfully undercuts that potential. It discourages diversity, fairness, and democracy. It also reduces social, technological, and economic innovation. Thus, solid arguments demand the inclusion of drug issues as part of urban policy. As public policy, the drug war contradicts the broad conservative push for urban austerity, while at the same time exacerbating the need for public expenditure. For decades, public spending on the drug war and closely associated prison operations has constituted a major growth industry. And yet, much like defense spending, drug-war spending is supported most strongly by those who otherwise favor austerity.Less
This chapter focuses on the drug war. Those who enforce drug laws attack inner-city neighborhoods directly, drastically disrupting the lives of poor black and Latino residents. Cities at their best are highly productive and just, but the drug war powerfully undercuts that potential. It discourages diversity, fairness, and democracy. It also reduces social, technological, and economic innovation. Thus, solid arguments demand the inclusion of drug issues as part of urban policy. As public policy, the drug war contradicts the broad conservative push for urban austerity, while at the same time exacerbating the need for public expenditure. For decades, public spending on the drug war and closely associated prison operations has constituted a major growth industry. And yet, much like defense spending, drug-war spending is supported most strongly by those who otherwise favor austerity.
