D uring a conversation at the recent Streetsblog training in Kansas City, I mentioned again the story of why the site is named what it is. I stated that often in the media, the word urban has been equated with the word black. Likewise, but not as much, other ethnicities have been tied to areas […]
I ‘m seeing lately that communities of color are buying into suburban ideals that are actually hurting rather than helping the community. This article in the Atlantic Cities talks about how this has happened in some Asian communities in California and I’ve seen it firsthand in the Black community here in North Carolina. (Latino readers, […]
I need to be honest. Sometimes I don’t want to write this blog anymore. Yes, I’m in love with the city and the greater sense of place found in all forms of natural and unnatural terrain. However, we all know that just because we love something, doesn’t mean we want to be with it or […]
Last week, I presented the case on Killing the Civic Inferiority Complex at CNU 20. I also released a companion e-book. It is part picture book of my hometown of Greensboro, NC and part self-help book for those who are having serious issues with the municipality they reside in. All of it is my case […]
Hey everyone. Hope you are having a great time at #CNU20 First of all, check out my travel story at Next American City. Then, be sure to follow me @blackurbanist on Twitter and Instagram for live tweets and shots. Tomorrow (Saturday), I’m presenting twice on the Civic Inferiority Complex. First at approximately 11:44 AM on […]
It’s been roughly 48 hours since the last session at CNU 20 and I’ve been home about 24 of those hours with a sore throat and bruised heels from all the great debates, ideas, dances, food and fellowship that I encountered at the Congress. There were so many diverse viewpoints this year that it has […]
O n Memorial Day, we celebrate the sacrifice of the many men and women of our Armed Forces that have passed on either in battle or having lived a full civilian life. My PaPa was a World War II veteran and his presence was missed as we gathered around the table and the grill at […]
Share After two years of writing this blog, it has come to my attention that I am simply a placeist. Not in the Urban Dictionary manner that sort of has undertones of being a racist or any other -ist that is negative. It’s in the sense that I see benefits in all types of land […]
Share After two years of writing this blog, it has come to my attention that I am simply a placeist. Not in the Urban Dictionary manner that sort of has undertones of being a racist or any other -ist that is negative. It’s in the sense that I see benefits in all types of land […]
Share It’s been roughly 48 hours since the last session at CNU 20 and I’ve been home about 24 of those hours with a sore throat and bruised heels from all the great debates, ideas, dances, food and fellowship that I encountered at the Congress. There were so many diverse viewpoints this year that it […]
Share 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 […]
Microbreweries are cool, fun and positive, but not quite newsworthy enough. Natty Green’s, Downtown Greensboro December 2009 The local Facebook and Twitter and Blogosphere are heating up with a controversial article on Greensboro, NC written by CNN. Much like the one they wrote about Charlotte earlier, it spares no bones in highlighting and illuminating some […]
Why natural disasters cancel the trivial problems of places. Share Do you know where you’re going to? Do you like the things that life is showing you? Where are you going to? Do you know?- “Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)” On Election Night, President Barrack Obama earned a second term. […]
North Hills (via Tripwolf.com) In November 2008, I was considering moving into the neighborhood in Raleigh I’d been working and playing in, North Hills (Midtown) Raleigh. North Hills is one of the many examples of successful classical new urbanism in North Carolina. It took a shopping mall that was emptying due to competition from nearby […]
