Spatializing Blackness: Architectures of Confinement and Black Masculinity in Chicago

FEATURING RASHAD SHABAZZ – The city of Chicago has many things that distinguish it, not all good. For example, the first half of this year saw hundreds of shooting incidents and gun deaths in Chicago. The Chicago police department has been rife with history of police violence and brutality. And, Chicago’s mayor has been found to be at a center of corruption allegations. Some of these issues can be traced back to the city’s history, in particular, how urban planning, geography, police surveillance and abuse, and incarceration have intersected to create prison-like environments particularly for the city’s black population.

Rashad Shabazz, Associate Professor in the School of Social Transformation at Arizona State University. His new book is called Spatializing Blackness: Architectures of Confinement and Black Masculinity in Chicago.