WilliamsJ-Dissertation DEFENSE
- 1. URBAN SLUMS TO THRIVING URBAN CENTERS: THE IMPACT OF QUEER SPACE IN EAST ATLANTA VILLAGE, MIDTOWN, LITTLE FIVE POINTS, AND INMAN PARK NEIGHBORHOODS IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA Jasmine N. Williams-Washington Jackson State University Department of Urban and Regional Planning Dissertation Defense
- 2. Introduction Traditionally, planning scholars have had little to say about minority sexualities in planning discourse specifically in the south. This qualitative case study plans to advance the understanding about the impact of queer (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning) spaces in the East Atlanta Village, Midtown and Little Five Points neighborhoods in Atlanta, Georgia. This study will provide an opportunity for these spaces to be seen as an asset to the metro area’s development rather than a detriment to the deep seated southern values that are embedded in the City too Busy to Hate.
- 3. Population
- 4. Use of the term Queer • In the 1990s the term queer began to be used by academics and activists in an attempt to take back the term after years of being used negatively (Brontsema, 2004). • It not only refers to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender identifying people, it has been used to identify omni-sexual individuals. • By definition the term queer is questioning something that is abnormal. • Queer is a minority sexuality differing from the sexuality practiced by the majority of society.
- 5. Purpose • Explore and describe the impact of identified queer spaces in the city of Atlanta. • To study and explain what kind of effect various queer spaces have had on the revitalization process and socioeconomic effects on the city of Atlanta. • To enlighten urban planners of the effects of this phenomena and the role queer space has had on the communities in which they inhabit.
- 6. What do I want to know??? • What identifies these neighborhoods as queer spaces? • What revitalization impact has the queer spaces had in the East Atlanta Village, Midtown, Little Five Points and Inman Park neighborhoods?
- 7. Literature at a Glance
- 8. • Queer Spaces – Like women along with people of color in planning, the Queer community has experienced the notion of prejudice in the literature (Doan, 2011). – Just as individuals do not have pre-existing sexual identities neither do spaces. In other words, space is not naturally, authentically “straight” but actively produced and (hetero)sexualized. (Binnie, 2011) • Gentrification – In There Goes the ‘Hood, Freeman(2006) describes the areas that are prone to gentrification as, “The ghetto, the inner city, the 'hood -- these terms have been applied as monikers for black neighborhoods and conjure up images of places that are off-limits to outsiders, places to be avoided after sundown, and paragons of pathology (2006).
- 9. • Historic Preservation – According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation (2009), this term is defined as the process of identifying, protecting, and enhancing buildings, places, and objects of historical and cultural significance. • Political Climate – Atlanta has long had an image of political and social moderation, cultivated in large part by the regime that formed between the city’s white business elite and black political leaders beginning in the 1940s (Stone, 1989).
- 10. How did I do this??
- 11. The Variables TYPE NAME DESCRIPTION Independent Queer Spaces Queer spaces are those places that are accepting of those that do not identify with traditional sexual identity norms. East Atlanta Village Located in Atlanta proper East Atlanta Village is located on the east side of Atlanta inside of Interstate 285 perimeter. Midtown Identified as the second largest business district in the city of Atlanta it is situated between the commercial and financial districts of Downtown corridor. Little Five Points Located on the east side of Atlanta inside of the Interstate 285 perimeter. Inman Park Located in east Atlanta and is the first city’s first planned neighborhood. Dependent Revitalization Gentrification The disinvestment and reinvestment in communities. Historic Preservation The act of protecting building, houses, or landscapes because of historical significance through the assignment of a protected designation. Economic Climate Economic growth geared towards the queer community. Political Climate Mood and opinions on political issues during the study period.
- 12. Limitations, Delimitations, and Assumptions • Limitations: Focus on the targeted study areas and not Atlanta as a whole. Second the lack of census data to further my research. • Delimitations: This historical analysis will not focus on gentrification in Atlanta, Georgia from the 1950 through the 1990. Thus, it does not give a full overview of this process in the study area because I am delimiting to only the East Atlanta Village, Midtown, Inman Park and Little Five Points neighborhoods.. • Assumptions: This study assumes that gentrification took place during the proposed study period. A second assumption is that the East Atlanta Village, Midtown and Little Five Points neighborhoods are the only areas where the gentrification process took place.
- 13. Sources of Analysis Variables Literature Survey East Atlanta Village Gentrification X Historic Preservation -- -- Political Climate X Economic Climate X X Midtown Gentrification X X Historic Preservation X Political Climate X Economic Climate X X Little Five Points Gentrification X X Historic Preservation -- -- Political Climate X Economic Climate X X Inman Park Gentrification -- -- Historic Preservation X
- 14. Findings • Revitalization efforts can be traced to the Stonewall Riot (June 28, 1969) and the Atlanta Police raid of the George Ellis’ Film Forum (August 11, 1969). • Survey respondents acknowledged revitalization efforts during the purposed time period. • Survey respondents expressed a feeling of safety and sense of community in the identified spaces. • After the Atlanta Police raid of 1969 a significant political gains were made in favor of the queer community.
- 15. Implications for Planning • Increase in the planning literature to focus on the queer community • Planners should be more intentional in planning for the queer community (intentionally more inclusive)
- 16. References • Adelman, R., & Williams-Reid, L. (2003, April). The Double-Edged Sword of Gentrification in Atlanta. Retrieved November 1, 2009, from American Sociological Association: http://www.asanet.org • Baxter, P., & Jack, S. (2008). Qualitative Case Study Methodology: Study Design and Implementation for Novice Researchers. The Qualitative Report Vol. 14 No. 4, 544- 559. • Boyer, M. (1983). Dreaming the Rational City: The Myth of American City Planning. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press. • Doan, P. L. (2011). Queerying Planning: Challenging Heteronormative Assumptions and Reframing Planning Practice. Burlington: Ashgate. • Inman Park Neighborhood Association, Inc. (n.d.). Inman Park. Retrieved from www.inmanpark.org • Keating, W., Krumholz, N., & Star, P. (1996). Revitalizing Urban Neighborhoods. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. • Manning-Thomas, J., & Ritzdorf, M. (1997). Urban Planning and the African American Community . Thousand Oaks: SAGE. • The Atlanta History Center. (n.d.). About Atlanta. Retrieved October 2010, 31, from Atlanta: http://www.atlanta.net
- 17. Thank You! Contact Information Jasmine N. Williams-Washington Doctoral Candidate JasmineNWilliams@yahoo.com