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| dc.contributor.author | Mangham, Angel | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-05-02T20:04:32Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-05-02T20:04:32Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-05-02 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10429/2568 | |
| dc.description | In the context of urban development, there is a systemic problem of tailoring the design of black neighborhoods to align with a white standard. It has far-reaching consequences, contributing to the persistent challenges of displacement and assimilation. This calls for a paradigm shift towards equitable urban planning practices that not only acknowledge but also respect and celebrate the inherent diversity within communities. The literature exposes the systemic undervaluation of black lives and property in American cities, dissecting historical and contemporary factors such as discriminatory policies. A shift in perspective is advocated to recognize the true value of black communities and their assets. Meanwhile, another piece challenges traditional notions of preservation, emphasizing the importance of understanding, the cultural significance of buildings beyond their physical condition. Prompting readers to consider how stories and memories shape the perception of place and a more empathetic approach to architectural preservation. These works highlight the need to confront historical biases and systemic inequalities and valuing black lives and cultural heritage, urging people to reconsider entrenched norms and advocate for more inclusive and equitable practices and urban planning and design. Additionally, there’s a focus on centering black narratives in research to rectify historical marginalization and provide a more comprehensive understanding of black experiences. Similarly, these pieces explore how design choices in architecture and urban planning can perpetuate or combat social inequities and advocate for designs that prioritize accessibility and inclusivity for individuals. Collectively, the works challenge existing power structures and highlight the potential for architecture, development, and research methodologies to contribute to a better society. These sources offer insight into creating spaces that reflect and honor the diversity and richness of black experience. This research examined various types of black neighborhoods to establish design principles and identify recurring patterns related to their longevity. These neighborhoods encompassed freedmen’s towns, traditional black communities, cultural enclaves, and neighborhoods that transitioned to predominantly black areas following white flight. Drawing from the design principles observed in freedmen’s towns, key factors such as self-sufficiency, community development, unity, responses to historical enslavement, and cultural and educational progress were identified. These principles were selected based on shared amenities and cultural practices prevalent within these neighborhoods. Furthermore, there exists a collective understanding among black communities regarding certain neighborhood attributes that are universally acknowledged. For example, using space for more than one designated use. This understanding, often overlooked by outsiders, leads to inaccurate comparisons with a white-centric standard. As mentioned before, this research expands on a range of topics that influence the greater narrative. Blackness encompasses a rich and diverse culmination of cultural traditions, rooted in the African diaspora. It represents resilience, creativity, and community forged in the face of historical oppression and systemic racism. Culture, within the context of blackness, embodies a dynamic fusion of music, art, language, and spirituality that has shaped global culture and influenced countless movements for social justice and equality. Change and development within black communities reflect ongoing struggles for empowerment and liberation, as well as the challenges of navigating shifting socioeconomic landscapes and urban environments. Conformity, while sometimes necessary for survival within oppressive systems, can also be a source of resistance and subversion, as black people and their communities assert agency and dominant narratives. Whiteness, as a social construct, consists of privilege, power, and the normalization of White cultural norms and standards, perpetuating systems of inequality and exclusion that continue to shape the experiences of the people worldwide. Existing knowledge, based on research, underscores a lack of neighborhoods designed with the needs of black communities in mind, reflecting design inequity fueled by racism. Previous studies and works have highlighted a prevailing focus on the physical structure and profit, neglecting the crucial cultural and communal aspects essential for the well-being of these neighborhoods. This can include the appearance of homes, quality of pathways, and the amenities offered in a neighborhood. Additionally, a pervasive lack of knowledge in addressing these issues has been identified, emphasizing the necessity for research that delves deeper into creating inclusive and culturally sensitive urban environments. This topic covers many dimensions and requires exploration through different lenses. All of this considered, there are a few questions that guide this research. How can spatial assimilation be avoided as a response to development? How can a conversation be started to identify the mental barriers that encourage the white standard and later influence an alternative (more positive) way of thinking? What are the strategies to ensure the essence of a neighborhood’s culture and values are sustained and amplified over time? Preserving the rich culture of black neighborhoods during the improvement process is essential. Deliberately allowing disrepair to adhere to a white standard agenda is unjust and erodes the identity of these communities. To counter this, advocating for improved design practices becomes imperative to ensure that the unique essence of each community remains intact throughout the development. The focus lies not only on avoiding spatial assimilation and forced displacement but also on fostering deeper conversations around these issues. Unlike previous research, this work doesn't just question the design process; it proposes a strategy that educates and encourages individuals to have a comprehensive reference document for designing in black communities. This thesis research is working from an intersubjective, contextual, and phenomenological framework depending on several concepts to influence the research. There is a mixed approach to the research questions including mostly qualitative methods. Utilizing methods like visual ethnography, neighborhood analysis, diagramming, interviews, narratives, installations, studying the validity and effectiveness of past methods, and case studies. New understanding presented to those who have not critiqued black space. More of a reiteration of past research done by those like Melvin Mitchell and Craig Wilkins. They critiqued the validity of black space, and the disconnections of African Americans roots to Africa. Understanding the issue of black neighborhoods being designed to a white standard can be a teaching tool and not just a critique. The qualitative research completed is being used to present the experience in black space as a black person to help outsiders understand. There is also a deep-thinking aspect to understand where do the biases that influence the design come from. It can be argued that the observed effect is not intentional and is a result of efficiency and a proven track record in design processes. The challenge arises when cultural considerations, harder to measure, are undervalued. Critiquing this thesis investigation involves questioning the basis of the claims and examining potential biases. The assertion is that preserving culture in black neighborhoods is crucial, necessitating an awareness of biases ingrained in designers' systemic thinking. Inefficiency in design emerges when community needs are overlooked, and the comparison of black neighborhoods to a white standard becomes limiting, controlled by project funders and designers. Moreover, it's important to note that the data concerning black neighborhoods is often not collected by individuals from within those communities, adding another layer of complexity to the issue. Opposing views may argue that urban development benefits all residents, irrespective of racial background, emphasizing economic and financial gains. The focus on infrastructure, safety, amenities, and building conditions is seen as positive, reflecting a generic, non-negative approach to development. In neighborhood development, the influence of whiteness as a default standard often manifests in specific approaches such as architectural styles, zoning regulations, infrastructure investments, and community amenities, which may inadvertently neglect or marginalize the unique needs and cultural preferences of racial minority populations. There is also opposition to the approach of solely appealing to emotions, there's a push to prioritize pragmatism and incorporate quantitative data to provide concrete evidence and factual support, rather than solely relying on emotional appeals. In response, it is acknowledged that these aspects are vital, but this exploration contends that preserving existing cultural identities is equally crucial. The opposition's generic approach is seen as a potential hindrance, emphasizing the need for enhanced qualitative research to inject vibrancy and prevent stagnation in the design process. Critics may argue that the evidence supporting these views is anecdotal or not universally applicable, highlighting the challenge of balancing cultural preservation with broader developmental goals. One proposal to address this challenge involves offering financial incentives to developers who prioritize gathering comprehensive information about the cultural nuances and preferences within black neighborhoods, fostering a more inclusive approach to design and development. Acceptability is a term laden with negative connotations. The objective is to bridge the gap between innovative neighborhood design and the formulation of guidelines addressing pertinent issues. Importantly, this investigation does not seek to overhaul established design methods or propagate a future biased aesthetic; instead, it presents information to encourage others to adjust the design process. This approach aims to reconcile divergent perspectives, offering a non-mandatory resource to aid the design process, distinct from a rigid framework. However, the absence of interaction with potential communities during the proposal draft and a reliance on both qualitative and quantitative data pose limitations. The initial qualitative research forms the foundation, exploring the root causes of the problem, while the project will transition towards a more analytical approach, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the issue while acknowledging potential limitations in identifying varied responses within black neighborhoods, especially concerning what the thesis defines as forced assimilation or conformity. In conclusion, delving into this topic not only contributes to our growth as designers but also enriches the diversity of approaches in design. The relevance of this exploration lies in challenging conventional notions of the design process within black neighborhoods, where communities and identities often face the risk of being lost amid development. Whether through displacement or the absence of thoughtful development, spatial assimilation poses a significant concern. The call to empathize with one another and initiate a dialogue for transformative change is essential. Acknowledging and addressing preconceived notions is crucial, especially when examining the development methods of black neighborhoods, as perceptions and ethics play a pivotal role. Secondary questions about what is deemed right and whether the end justifies the means emerge, their answers shaped by individual experiences, backgrounds, and stories. | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | This thesis investigation focused on how black neighborhoods are pressured to appeal to a white standard. Systemic racism has altered the quality of life for black people. It is also apparent that community developers are focused on financial gain instead of equitable practices. This issue covered many dimensions and required exploration through different lenses such as ideological, social, economic, built aspects. For example, from understanding the process of introspection and a need for it in all phases of the design process to displaying the versatility of physical space within the black community. These were the guiding questions for this analysis; How can spatial assimilation be avoided as a response to development? How can a conversation be fostered to identify the mental barriers to understand the white standard and how can that conversation later support an alternative way of thinking? What are the strategies to ensure that the essence of a black neighborhood’s culture and values are sustained and amplified over time? Overall, this study focused on using qualitative methods, including visual ethnography, installations, photography, and films to understand the cultural experience of black people within their neighborhoods. Research has also referenced existing literature and approaches to the broader issues stated earlier. It is important to understand the value of putting the community at the forefront and altering the traditional design approach. The essence of culture as created by black people cannot be reproduced simply through physical appearance of the built environment. The character of the neighborhood is overshadowed once people are displaced and the pressure to meet the dominant culture standard takes control of the neighborhood’s identity. It is a reoccurring scenario that repeats itself in multiple communities and there is an evident need for change. In conclusion, this research added value to the design profession by calling for a change in the built environment profession. It encouraged people to think and design in more profound ways and consider other approaches to ensure black communities thrive and sustain after they are developed. | en_US |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.subject | Black Space | en_US |
| dc.subject | Neighborhood Development | en_US |
| dc.subject | Systemic Racism | en_US |
| dc.title | A Simulation | en_US |
| dc.title.alternative | Unmasking the Invisible Standard | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
