This morning I saw not just one, but two articles on the food desert issue. Both articles talked about previously hashed arguments on food deserts, as well as new research that suggested that the accepted solution of more supermarkets in poor areas does not work as planned. I think it’s more than the presence of… Continue reading Maybe It’s Not the Food Itself, It’s The Way We Eat
Year: 2012
Actually Being Urban Part 1- Apartment Finding
I’ve been fortunate in the past three weeks to obtain full time employment. What that means is that I finally get to put into practice a lot of the things I preach on this blog and retweet out to others on the social sites. You will also notice a few minor site changes(better tags, better… Continue reading Actually Being Urban Part 1- Apartment Finding
Conference Preview and Repost-The Reverse Great Migration and Urbanism
This weekend( April 20-21, 2012) I have the honor of being on a panel at the UNC Global South Symposium on the “reverse migration” of African Americans. In honor of this, I’m re-posting my original thoughts on this subject. If you are near Chapel Hill this weekend, feel free to come by tomorrow afternoon. The… Continue reading Conference Preview and Repost-The Reverse Great Migration and Urbanism
Photoinspiration: Down on the Farm (and a Little Piece of the City Too…)
For those of you who were wondering what the land is like down at my grandparents, here are a few pictures from this past Easter Sunday. I missed you guys last week, but trust me, there’s a good reason coming up on why I was absent. I’m looking forward to some great discussion on the… Continue reading Photoinspiration: Down on the Farm (and a Little Piece of the City Too…)
The Urban Hierarchy is Dead
The urbanist blogosphere has been on fire again over this idea of an urban hierarchy . I love Aaron Renn’s commentary as a whole he’s traditionally highlighted small cities. I also believe that he’s only digging deeper into what others have already said, namely Richard Florida, on the state of our cities. However, I believe… Continue reading The Urban Hierarchy is Dead
GUEST POST: Does Rural Urbanism = “White”?
Today I am sharing my space with Katie McCaskey of Urban Escapee. She and I are examining different shades of the words “rural urbanism”. Below she examines the racial element and on her blog I explore the place-related element. Enjoy! Our rural urbanism captured my attention when I moved from New York City to Staunton,… Continue reading GUEST POST: Does Rural Urbanism = “White”?
Photospiration: Find Your Cool In Durham
What is cool? There’s a new book about that, but it’s focused primarly on African-Americans. What about everyone else? What makes something cool? Why are people coming back downtown? This sign on the back of a building in Durham invites people to come to their main street and find it. I just look at… Continue reading Photospiration: Find Your Cool In Durham
For Trayvon, With Love
You’re probably watching me type this right now. Or actually, I hope you are living out some of your dreams in heaven. However, it would be so much better if you were still down here on Earth. I started this site because my dad and I used to walk around our neighborhoods too. There was… Continue reading For Trayvon, With Love
Support The Black Urbanist in the Knight News Challenge
Readers , Family and Friends: As I wrote a few weeks ago, I want to expand the reach of this site. I believe there are many voices in placemaking, community development and cultural awarness that need to be heard together. The recent neighborhood shooting in Florida and the rising gas prices make this type of… Continue reading Support The Black Urbanist in the Knight News Challenge
Durham, The City As A Bull
I couldn’t talk about Raleigh without talking about Durham. Durham is known locally as the Bull City. Looking at the logic I applied to Raleigh, I found that Durham has community characteristics that resemble it’s nickname. These characteristics are not so much in how the city is shaped, but how the city has been shaped… Continue reading Durham, The City As A Bull