From the block to the world: Black placemaking in New York City over three generations

Following scholars of Critical Race Theory and Black Geographies, this article employs a biographical and genealogical methodology to trace trajectories of social, cultural, and political change in Black urban communities in the 20th century. Specifically, by focusing on the paternal line of the artist and hip-hop pioneer Frederick Brathwaite (known as Fab 5 Freddy), this article examines the relationship of urban space to Black cultural production over time. I argue that cultural and political production are expressions of Black placemaking, reflecting the migratory flows, social conditions, and structural experiences of Black communities in the 20th century. However, the commodification of Black cultural production raises questions regarding its persistence as a form of Black placemaking. Using qualitative sources, this article draws attention to the ways that Black cultural production is a spatial expression. This article also offers insight into the cultural persistence of Black urban communities during the 20th century.