Despite my past struggles educationally, professionally, and financially, I’m privileged. It’s not because of my job, where I live, my marital or health status, although these factors don’t hurt; it’s because I am first and foremost a white male.
In part because I am a foreigner, I didn’t grow up here, and in part because I haven’t been subjected to racial discrimination, I never really considered being white to be an advantage for me. Like every other white person in the United States, I hear the rhetoric of equality that are standards that all institutions are supposed to live up to and assume merit at the root of my success. In reality, being white gives me a huge advantage.
Don’t get me wrong- I’m not suggesting that I or anyone else should wallow in liberal guilt, but I am calling for a deeper self-examination of white privilege, both seen and unseen.
When I go into a store, no matter what I wear, or how disheveled I look, the sales clerks and loss protection folks (regardless of what race they are) do not look at me as a potential shop-lifter. This not the experience that an African-American shopper who might be immaculately coiffed, groomed, and dressed has. In 2020, the systemic racism that exists in the United States often tends to be implicit and more subtle than it was two decades ago. The numerous situations where racism may be mediating an interaction are the kinds of things that African-Americans have to continuously pay attention to (or confront) when they are in public space. I can’t imagine, and will never be able to imagine, the amount of daily stress this type of racist scrutiny puts people under. As time goes on, this stress snowballs into innumerable negative outcomes such as poor health, suicide, educational choices, etc.. These toxic and stressful interactions are not relegated to private spaces such as clothing stores, they are also dominant in public spaces such as pools, parks, playgrounds, and privately owned public spaces like shopping malls and plazas.
Baring the hourly COVID-19 news updates, this past week has put in to bold relief some of the more damning problems of race relations in the United States. From the Amy Cooper Central Park story, to the Louisville no-knock raid that resulted in the death of Breonna Taylor, to the murder of George Floyd at the hands of white police officers in Minneapolis, African Americans in our society are seen as less than second class citizens.
Unfortunately, the racist incidents that occurred in the past few weeks are not new. They are on a continuum of oppression and racism of 400 years of history. What is new is the mechanisms for capturing this immoral behavior. We now have access to smart phone videos of these kinds of interactions and within minutes, and from multiple angles, we can learn about these brutal acts in real time.
The audio and visual information shared on social media is critical in drawing attention to the multiple instances of egregious acts of racism, but it is not enough. We need a formal and informal national conversation on race and white privilege. I have my doubts that this is going to take place anytime soon under the current president that has incited underlining hatred. Perhaps when a new administration is in power we purposively address this challenge. This can be similar to the gut wrenching Truth and Reconciliation Commission that countries like Argentina, Rwanda and South Africa, went through. (By last count there have been close to 45 of these throughout the world). These are imperfect solutions, but it will also be a place to start to critically examine, draw attention to, and possibly heal some the most abject and longstanding problems or race-relations dogging the United States.
While we wait to get leaders who can guide us, we can all do our part via informal conversations. If you see a racist act, call it out. Educate yourself about the inequities in your own community. Engage in self-reflection about y our own values, beliefs, and implicit bias. Learn about the ways that other communities contribute to our society,
There are also numerous anti-racist reading lists you can consult, and encourage people in your network (i.e., family members, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and students) to read. You can also consider donating your time or money to anti-racist organizations, and voting in candidates who not only profess a desire to improve race relations, but have a track record of doing so.
https://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot-2020-06-01-at-11.12.59-AM-1.png448640Jeffrey Ian Rosshttps://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/jeffrey-ian-ross-logo-04.pngJeffrey Ian Ross2020-06-02 17:29:512024-09-22 12:24:46Questioning my white privilege, African-Americans, and space
If you are like most people, you drive or walk around the city focused on getting to your next destination. If you are driving hopefully you pay attention to other vehicles on the road, the traffic signs and lights, and the pedestrians who attempt or are in the process of crossing the road. If you are walking sometimes you multitask, with your eyes glued to your smart phone, trying to avoid others who are walking towards you and being careful not to bump into them. At other times you are daydreaming, thinking of a vacation you should take or the work you haven’t done. You get my point. Unless you’re a “flaneur” and wander the streets to take in its sights and smells, and look at interesting people walking by, you’re distracted and miss lots of stuff. For good reasons, you may have chosen to be oblivious to the vast external world around you.
In many ways ignoring what’s going on around you is efficient. We are constantly bombarded by lots of information (e.g., visual, auditory, olfactory, etc.) that tax our ability to process it all. We need to quickly and efficiently make sense of immediate situations to determine what information is important and what can be ignored. We also have limited attention spans, no doubt related to our level of interest, motivation, and urgency. This largely unconscious process means that we are missing many social and cultural messages directed at us.
The notion that we ignore all sorts of information that the urban environment bombards us with has been identified by many keen observers of human behavior. German philosopher Martin Heidegger, for example, argued that people have become “numb to their surroundings [and] view things in a hazy muted way.”
Graffiti and Street Art, one of the most notable aspects of street culture, and one of the most important art movements in the post-modern world we live in is one of those aspects of urban environments, that many people tend to ignore. Unless you are a graffiti or street art aficionado, or your property has been recently tagged you are bound to ignore it. Again, there are several reasons why this occurs. Graffiti and street art are ubiquitous. In every large city, if you care to look, and you don’t have to go very far, you will find graffiti and street art. In some cities like New York, London, or Paris this phenomenon is omnipresent.
Just like lots of things, we can probably function fine without really noticing or understanding graffiti and street art, but if we want a richer urban experience, and have some measure of control over it, it makes sense to learn a little about the nuances of these phenomena. I’m not talking about the ability to rattle off a bunch of names of infamous Graffiti and Street Artists, I’m referring to the ability to distinguish among different types, motivations for people engaging in Graffiti and Street Art, and the numerous reactions these activities produce.
Why is this important? If we do not understand graffiti and street art, we may witness or be subjected to constant battles between those who engage in this activity and those who seek to control it, but not be able to do anything about it.
So what? Under our noses, a subterranean battle over public space is taking place for dominance, notoriety, and recognition by those who engage in graffiti and street art, and control by forces that want to eliminate, minimize or redirect this activity. Again, So what? It’s important to develop a modicum of graffiti/street literacy if you want to better understand and maybe even have some sort of say over the visual landscape that you are exposed to on a daily basis. It’s important to understand the basics such as definitions, some of the major players, and here I am not simply talking about Banksy or Sheppard Fairy. There are web sites and exhibits that you can visit, and articles and books you can read. Better still most of this information is free or can be accessed at minimal cost.
Why? Understanding Graffiti and Street Art enhances your knowledge of contemporary urban and street culture – art is not just the stuff in museums; learning to appreciate graffiti and street art can change your view of the world, give new perspectives, expand your imagination, affect your well-being by enervating you, helping you to calm down, make you nostalgic, or bring a smile to your face. In short, it can make you feel alive and part of a community of people who share similar values, but also when they may have different viewpoints. Immersing yourself in this way gives you a sense of ownership, you live here, this is your city, you care for it, and eventually you’ll protect it and help it grow.
As note French Philosopher Henri Lefevre suggested (and echoed by people like Jane Jacobs, and David Harvey), we have a right to the city beyond the commodification engaged in by large monied interests (e.g., typically large powerful corporations). He said that over time the city will support the interests of capitalism and that this will dominate and rule our lives versus the other way round. Thus, if you care about the quality of your built urban environment, it is not only the duty and responsibility of local urban governments to protect the city, to ensure its sidewalks and pedestrian walkways, its open spaces, but it is first and foremost residents responsibility to ensure that this is done in their best interests. Graffiti and street art and other important kinds of urban art, help to make cities interesting, and are all part of this experience. Urbanites need to get involved in shaping these outcomes and this starts with understanding what you see, feel and experience and not operating like you are immune to the built environment.
https://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_3611.jpg480640Jeffrey Ian Rosshttps://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/jeffrey-ian-ross-logo-04.pngJeffrey Ian Ross2020-05-26 18:22:572024-09-22 12:24:47What’s Graffiti & Street Art got to do with it?
The appearance of COVID-19 in the United States and elsewhere has changed most people’s lives. We’ve seen and experienced significant disruptions in many sectors in society from transportation to education, to public safety.
One of the most noticeable differences has been a decrease in the number of people who are either driving or walking. Some cities and neighborhoods have resembled ghost towns. For example, a month ago a colleague sent me a video of her walking through the streets of Venice. During this 4 minute clip she did not encounter a single person, something unheard of even on the rare occasions when it snows.
No doubt the main reason pedestrians stay away from the streets is fear of contracting the corona virus from someone else. Alternatively, jurisdictions passed stay at home/shelter in place orders with fines dispensed to people who were caught outside without a legitimate reason (i.e., purchasing food, medicine, getting some exercise and/or walking your dog).
But now that some of these orders have been partially or totally lifted, an inability or lack of desire by law enforcement to enforce the orders, the fact that the weather is nicer or more likely cabin fever, it is making it increasingly difficult for urban dwellers not to spend some time outside. And when you see people sunbathing in public parks and walking along the beach, it’s tempting to join them. In my home town of Washington DC, for instance, this past weekend I observed numerous people hanging out on park benches in Dupont Circle, and nearby Logan Circle looked like party central. Few people, including the U.S. Park police, wore masks. Meanwhile up in Kalorama, Adams Morgan, and Mount Pleasant failure to wear a mask seemed an exception rather than the rule.
Even though the weather has improved, it does not mean that the virus has gone away and that you can still not get it from face to face contact with others. So walking around unprotected does not seem the most prudent way to combat a lethal killer.
To provide a measure of personal protection from being infected by the virus, the public has been advised to social distance and some medical experts have also suggested that they wear masks. This last approach has been selectively adopted by some retail establishments, transportation modalities, and cities. Some jurisdictions have even closed a select number of city streets, thereby creating wider sidewalks and enabling greater social distancing. Most cities, however, have not taken this approach.
But still there are lots of other people who ignore this advice and refuse to wear masks. In my neighborhood there is no one demographic who fail to wear masks. In the middle ground some bike riders wear masks and others who don’t. There are some joggers who do and those that don’t. Then again there are people who walk the street without their masks on, but dangling from their neck.
People walking along the street without masks and who fail to keep at least six feet away do so for a variety of reasons. But now that we have a pandemic and numerous people fail to wear masks, walking along city streets is akin to taking your life in your own hands. In some respects it’s like walking through a neighborhood, where you know almost everyone is packing a gun. Meanwhile there is a serious game of chicken that you are forced to play walking along the city street. Few if any of the non-mask wearing public will inconvenience themselves by moving out of the way.
They could give everyone they see not wearing a mask the evil eye. Alternatively they could cough on them. Or they could wear a shirt that says “I have COVID-19, stay away,” or a mask that says something similar. Or they could verbally confront the non-mask wearers by asking them where their mask is, and giving them a stern lecture, effectively joining a small army of “the mask police.”
Common sense suggests avoiding the nonmasked public and those who fail to social distance as much as possible. This could mean trying to limit the number of times you need to be out in public. Alternatively you need to walk down the street, zig zagging from one the side of the side walk to the other and when necessary off the sidewalk and into the street. Unfortunately this also puts you into a dangerous situation, where you might be hit by a car.
Masked or not masked during this time of COVID-19 everyone is a potential killer, and social distancing if not practiced by others is something that you need to do.
https://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot-2020-05-18-at-10.29.45-PM-2.png430640Jeffrey Ian Rosshttps://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/jeffrey-ian-ross-logo-04.pngJeffrey Ian Ross2020-05-19 03:52:342021-06-08 15:48:23Street Culture, Social Distancing, Masks, and COVID-19
Questioning my white privilege, African-Americans, and space
/by Jeffrey Ian RossDespite my past struggles educationally, professionally, and financially, I’m privileged. It’s not because of my job, where I live, my marital or health status, although these factors don’t hurt; it’s because I am first and foremost a white male.
In part because I am a foreigner, I didn’t grow up here, and in part because I haven’t been subjected to racial discrimination, I never really considered being white to be an advantage for me. Like every other white person in the United States, I hear the rhetoric of equality that are standards that all institutions are supposed to live up to and assume merit at the root of my success. In reality, being white gives me a huge advantage.
Don’t get me wrong- I’m not suggesting that I or anyone else should wallow in liberal guilt, but I am calling for a deeper self-examination of white privilege, both seen and unseen.
When I go into a store, no matter what I wear, or how disheveled I look, the sales clerks and loss protection folks (regardless of what race they are) do not look at me as a potential shop-lifter. This not the experience that an African-American shopper who might be immaculately coiffed, groomed, and dressed has. In 2020, the systemic racism that exists in the United States often tends to be implicit and more subtle than it was two decades ago. The numerous situations where racism may be mediating an interaction are the kinds of things that African-Americans have to continuously pay attention to (or confront) when they are in public space. I can’t imagine, and will never be able to imagine, the amount of daily stress this type of racist scrutiny puts people under. As time goes on, this stress snowballs into innumerable negative outcomes such as poor health, suicide, educational choices, etc.. These toxic and stressful interactions are not relegated to private spaces such as clothing stores, they are also dominant in public spaces such as pools, parks, playgrounds, and privately owned public spaces like shopping malls and plazas.
Baring the hourly COVID-19 news updates, this past week has put in to bold relief some of the more damning problems of race relations in the United States. From the Amy Cooper Central Park story, to the Louisville no-knock raid that resulted in the death of Breonna Taylor, to the murder of George Floyd at the hands of white police officers in Minneapolis, African Americans in our society are seen as less than second class citizens.
Unfortunately, the racist incidents that occurred in the past few weeks are not new. They are on a continuum of oppression and racism of 400 years of history. What is new is the mechanisms for capturing this immoral behavior. We now have access to smart phone videos of these kinds of interactions and within minutes, and from multiple angles, we can learn about these brutal acts in real time.
The audio and visual information shared on social media is critical in drawing attention to the multiple instances of egregious acts of racism, but it is not enough. We need a formal and informal national conversation on race and white privilege. I have my doubts that this is going to take place anytime soon under the current president that has incited underlining hatred. Perhaps when a new administration is in power we purposively address this challenge. This can be similar to the gut wrenching Truth and Reconciliation Commission that countries like Argentina, Rwanda and South Africa, went through. (By last count there have been close to 45 of these throughout the world). These are imperfect solutions, but it will also be a place to start to critically examine, draw attention to, and possibly heal some the most abject and longstanding problems or race-relations dogging the United States.
While we wait to get leaders who can guide us, we can all do our part via informal conversations. If you see a racist act, call it out. Educate yourself about the inequities in your own community. Engage in self-reflection about y our own values, beliefs, and implicit bias. Learn about the ways that other communities contribute to our society,
There are also numerous anti-racist reading lists you can consult, and encourage people in your network (i.e., family members, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and students) to read. You can also consider donating your time or money to anti-racist organizations, and voting in candidates who not only profess a desire to improve race relations, but have a track record of doing so.
What’s Graffiti & Street Art got to do with it?
/by Jeffrey Ian RossIf you are like most people, you drive or walk around the city focused on getting to your next destination. If you are driving hopefully you pay attention to other vehicles on the road, the traffic signs and lights, and the pedestrians who attempt or are in the process of crossing the road. If you are walking sometimes you multitask, with your eyes glued to your smart phone, trying to avoid others who are walking towards you and being careful not to bump into them. At other times you are daydreaming, thinking of a vacation you should take or the work you haven’t done. You get my point. Unless you’re a “flaneur” and wander the streets to take in its sights and smells, and look at interesting people walking by, you’re distracted and miss lots of stuff. For good reasons, you may have chosen to be oblivious to the vast external world around you.
In many ways ignoring what’s going on around you is efficient. We are constantly bombarded by lots of information (e.g., visual, auditory, olfactory, etc.) that tax our ability to process it all. We need to quickly and efficiently make sense of immediate situations to determine what information is important and what can be ignored. We also have limited attention spans, no doubt related to our level of interest, motivation, and urgency. This largely unconscious process means that we are missing many social and cultural messages directed at us.
The notion that we ignore all sorts of information that the urban environment bombards us with has been identified by many keen observers of human behavior. German philosopher Martin Heidegger, for example, argued that people have become “numb to their surroundings [and] view things in a hazy muted way.”
Graffiti and Street Art, one of the most notable aspects of street culture, and one of the most important art movements in the post-modern world we live in is one of those aspects of urban environments, that many people tend to ignore. Unless you are a graffiti or street art aficionado, or your property has been recently tagged you are bound to ignore it. Again, there are several reasons why this occurs. Graffiti and street art are ubiquitous. In every large city, if you care to look, and you don’t have to go very far, you will find graffiti and street art. In some cities like New York, London, or Paris this phenomenon is omnipresent.
Just like lots of things, we can probably function fine without really noticing or understanding graffiti and street art, but if we want a richer urban experience, and have some measure of control over it, it makes sense to learn a little about the nuances of these phenomena. I’m not talking about the ability to rattle off a bunch of names of infamous Graffiti and Street Artists, I’m referring to the ability to distinguish among different types, motivations for people engaging in Graffiti and Street Art, and the numerous reactions these activities produce.
Why is this important? If we do not understand graffiti and street art, we may witness or be subjected to constant battles between those who engage in this activity and those who seek to control it, but not be able to do anything about it.
So what? Under our noses, a subterranean battle over public space is taking place for dominance, notoriety, and recognition by those who engage in graffiti and street art, and control by forces that want to eliminate, minimize or redirect this activity. Again, So what? It’s important to develop a modicum of graffiti/street literacy if you want to better understand and maybe even have some sort of say over the visual landscape that you are exposed to on a daily basis. It’s important to understand the basics such as definitions, some of the major players, and here I am not simply talking about Banksy or Sheppard Fairy. There are web sites and exhibits that you can visit, and articles and books you can read. Better still most of this information is free or can be accessed at minimal cost.
Why? Understanding Graffiti and Street Art enhances your knowledge of contemporary urban and street culture – art is not just the stuff in museums; learning to appreciate graffiti and street art can change your view of the world, give new perspectives, expand your imagination, affect your well-being by enervating you, helping you to calm down, make you nostalgic, or bring a smile to your face. In short, it can make you feel alive and part of a community of people who share similar values, but also when they may have different viewpoints. Immersing yourself in this way gives you a sense of ownership, you live here, this is your city, you care for it, and eventually you’ll protect it and help it grow.
As note French Philosopher Henri Lefevre suggested (and echoed by people like Jane Jacobs, and David Harvey), we have a right to the city beyond the commodification engaged in by large monied interests (e.g., typically large powerful corporations). He said that over time the city will support the interests of capitalism and that this will dominate and rule our lives versus the other way round. Thus, if you care about the quality of your built urban environment, it is not only the duty and responsibility of local urban governments to protect the city, to ensure its sidewalks and pedestrian walkways, its open spaces, but it is first and foremost residents responsibility to ensure that this is done in their best interests. Graffiti and street art and other important kinds of urban art, help to make cities interesting, and are all part of this experience. Urbanites need to get involved in shaping these outcomes and this starts with understanding what you see, feel and experience and not operating like you are immune to the built environment.
Street Culture, Social Distancing, Masks, and COVID-19
/by Jeffrey Ian RossThe appearance of COVID-19 in the United States and elsewhere has changed most people’s lives. We’ve seen and experienced significant disruptions in many sectors in society from transportation to education, to public safety.
One of the most noticeable differences has been a decrease in the number of people who are either driving or walking. Some cities and neighborhoods have resembled ghost towns. For example, a month ago a colleague sent me a video of her walking through the streets of Venice. During this 4 minute clip she did not encounter a single person, something unheard of even on the rare occasions when it snows.
No doubt the main reason pedestrians stay away from the streets is fear of contracting the corona virus from someone else. Alternatively, jurisdictions passed stay at home/shelter in place orders with fines dispensed to people who were caught outside without a legitimate reason (i.e., purchasing food, medicine, getting some exercise and/or walking your dog).
But now that some of these orders have been partially or totally lifted, an inability or lack of desire by law enforcement to enforce the orders, the fact that the weather is nicer or more likely cabin fever, it is making it increasingly difficult for urban dwellers not to spend some time outside. And when you see people sunbathing in public parks and walking along the beach, it’s tempting to join them. In my home town of Washington DC, for instance, this past weekend I observed numerous people hanging out on park benches in Dupont Circle, and nearby Logan Circle looked like party central. Few people, including the U.S. Park police, wore masks. Meanwhile up in Kalorama, Adams Morgan, and Mount Pleasant failure to wear a mask seemed an exception rather than the rule.
Even though the weather has improved, it does not mean that the virus has gone away and that you can still not get it from face to face contact with others. So walking around unprotected does not seem the most prudent way to combat a lethal killer.
To provide a measure of personal protection from being infected by the virus, the public has been advised to social distance and some medical experts have also suggested that they wear masks. This last approach has been selectively adopted by some retail establishments, transportation modalities, and cities. Some jurisdictions have even closed a select number of city streets, thereby creating wider sidewalks and enabling greater social distancing. Most cities, however, have not taken this approach.
Some people have embraced face mask culture. They have moved beyond wearing the drab blue surgical masks, or black bicycle ones, and either bought or created their own unique masks that showcase their creativeness. Meanwhile, well-meaning social commentators have opined about the increased risk to personal safety that young African-American males might encounter if they wear masks in public.
But still there are lots of other people who ignore this advice and refuse to wear masks. In my neighborhood there is no one demographic who fail to wear masks. In the middle ground some bike riders wear masks and others who don’t. There are some joggers who do and those that don’t. Then again there are people who walk the street without their masks on, but dangling from their neck.
People walking along the street without masks and who fail to keep at least six feet away do so for a variety of reasons. But now that we have a pandemic and numerous people fail to wear masks, walking along city streets is akin to taking your life in your own hands. In some respects it’s like walking through a neighborhood, where you know almost everyone is packing a gun. Meanwhile there is a serious game of chicken that you are forced to play walking along the city street. Few if any of the non-mask wearing public will inconvenience themselves by moving out of the way.
This poses a problem to the people who are wearing masks and engage in social distancing. What should the mask wearing public do every time they see someone without a mask and/ or coming closer than six feet to them?
They could give everyone they see not wearing a mask the evil eye. Alternatively they could cough on them. Or they could wear a shirt that says “I have COVID-19, stay away,” or a mask that says something similar. Or they could verbally confront the non-mask wearers by asking them where their mask is, and giving them a stern lecture, effectively joining a small army of “the mask police.”
Unfortunately these approaches are frequently futile, because so many of the people who are not wearing a mask will either ignore you, or might even tell you to take a hike. At its worst you may be assaulted as has been the case when NYPD officers recently confronted someone without a mask, or you may be killed similar to the incident where a security guard did the same at a Family Dollar store in Flint, Michigan last week.
Common sense suggests avoiding the nonmasked public and those who fail to social distance as much as possible. This could mean trying to limit the number of times you need to be out in public. Alternatively you need to walk down the street, zig zagging from one the side of the side walk to the other and when necessary off the sidewalk and into the street. Unfortunately this also puts you into a dangerous situation, where you might be hit by a car.
Masked or not masked during this time of COVID-19 everyone is a potential killer, and social distancing if not practiced by others is something that you need to do.