Black Logics Black Methods

Abstract

  • The article discusses an assets-based approach to the study of black life through qualitative methods and ethnography.

  • It introduces two pathways: racial recalibration and black time, arguing conventional timelines for black histories often align with white notions of time.

  • Emphasizes the theoretical and analytic strength of everyday black wisdom and the importance of storytelling in understanding black perspectives.

Introduction

  • Cites Tukufu Zuberi and Eduardo Bonilla-Silva's work on racial knowledge production.

  • Aims to explore 'black methods' and 'black logics' in qualitative and ethnographic research.

  • Revisits W. E. B. Du Bois’s The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study to analyze the Black Seventh Ward of Philadelphia.

Background

Migration Patterns

  • The Black Seventh Ward emerged as a hub for blacks during the Great Migration, becoming one of the largest black communities in Philadelphia.

  • Du Bois documented a black population of around 10,000 in the late 19th century.

Cultural and Political Landscape

  • Stresses the importance of understanding the cultural and political evolution of the Black Seventh Ward over time.

  • Highlights the significance of examining this neighborhood's history and its impact on broader urban America.

Racial Recalibration

  • Proposes a new understanding of historical timelines specific to the black community.

  • Uses empirical evidence from research to challenge mainstream historical perspectives.

  • Mentions how economic downturns like the Great Depression affected black Philadelphians disproportionately.

Colored People’s Time (CPT)

  • Defines CPT as a commentary on black people's use and perception of time.

  • Suggests a different narrative of time and events from the black perspective, contrasting with mainstream historical timelines.

Case Study: Brown & Stevens Bank Collapse

Historical Context

  • An investigation into banking failures affecting the Black Seventh Ward during the 1920s and 1930s.

  • Discusses the impact of racialized economic conditions leading to a unique timeline of black economic struggles.

Economic Impact

  • Outlines events leading to the bank run, including public sentiment and economic rumors.

  • Discusses the aftermath including the loss of savings, jobs, and faith in banking institutions among black residents.

Housing and Community Response

Tenement Collapse of 1936

  • Details of the structural collapse in 1936 tragically affecting several families in the Black Seventh Ward.

  • The event spurred housing reforms and collective action among black residents to demand better living conditions and accountability.

Activism and Institutional Changes

  • Discusses the rise of black-led organizations advocating for housing reform post-collapse.

  • Highlights the development of public housing projects aimed at addressing black housing needs, leading to widespread activism.

Conclusion

  • Posits that understanding the Black Seventh Ward’s history involves recognizing indigenous timelines and racial recalibration.

  • Suggests future research should focus on how marginalized communities define and navigate their experiences through their historical narratives.

  • Calls for examining black experiences beyond mainstream historical frameworks to appreciate their unique contributions to urban history.