Elijah Anderson

Black in White Space by Elijah Anderson is a remarkably clear explanation of both the impact and the experience of being Black in predominantly white spaces.

The richness of the text is in Anderson's ability to explain the theory without being a "theory book." So often people read and enjoy theory but what they do is really relatively empty because they don't recognize applied theory. Ethnographic and sociological research in particular means nothing if not taken from real life (what some so-called theorists call anecdotes but what is really qualitative research) and then, once analyzed, applied back to real life. If you are familiar with the theory you will see it on every page yet it is not front and center. The actual world, with all of its nuance, is presented. Explanations are kept largely jargon-free so this can be appreciated by anyone open to understanding.

I will say that it took a while for me to appreciate the writing style, it is so readable that I almost let some of the subtlety of the delivery detract from the power of the observations. Once I gained an awareness of how well Anderson is making this material accessible I found myself learning so much more than what just reading the research as anecdotes would have allowed. But don't be fooled, accessible does not equate to dumbed down or theory-free.

I would recommend this to any "white" reader who wants to better understand the world around them and to any reader of color who might sometimes feel like they are isolated in their experiences. All readers should read this with an eye toward doing more than understanding, but rather to use that understanding to make society better.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.… (more)

Symbolic interactionist work on racial relations in public and private spaces. Complex yet clear analyses of black and white relations in urban America. Most notable are the author’s assessment on the way how public spaces, business establishments, and work organizations are racialized and class-based. Keen observations, insightful and intuitive explanations make this book worthwhile.

While the content is decent, I would’ve liked it more had it been more organized. Reads somewhat disjointed between the first half of the book, which elaborates the term cosmopolitan canopy, and the second, which examines a type of canopy - workplace - by way of Weberian analysis of the cosmos and ethnos. Racial relations from black middle class men perspective with an emphasis on class. No gender analysis is offered.

My first encounter with Elijah Anderson’s work. It’s interesting and useful enough that I want to check out his other contributions. Not sure if this is one of his better writings.… (more)

I found this book while looking for something else. What a great find. I volunteer with two organizations which operate on the Southside of Chicago. I do have some 'street experience'. But this book opened up an entirely new world and expanded my view. Dr. Anderson presents a study of how people interact and attempt to remain safe in the public spaces of poor, inner city neighborhoods. Not only that, but he also given an explanation of how and why this culture evolved. He provides a great deal of info, both theory and practical. While his work is scholarly, this book is written for the general public; very readable. Highly recommend.… (more)

This book was insightful in helping me understand why the social opposition identity paradigm is so important to those who live by the street code. Mr. Anderson does a tremendous job in detailing how it is so precarious for so called decent and street people to share the same public space. The book takes us along a Philadelphia street called, German town Avenue and how the various social classes interact with members of other social classes and those of their own kind. It is a book work reading especially if you want to know why the ravage-poor behave the way they do.… (more)