Taking to the streets

For this assignment, you should first read the assigned text, which can be found in Week 5 Readings. While there's a lot for you to read, most of the readings are short, and most are not that hard to understand/follow. I do want you to read all the readings. 

This assignment is a variation of a Question-Comment-Connect post, which you may have done in another class. 

Part 1: Question:

Pose one or more questions prompted by the readings which engage you as a writer, but for which you may not have a ready answer. These should be questions that you would like to discuss more together online and in class, including questions about how we might interpret/analyze particular ideas in the readings, how we might apply the readings to particular academic/non-academic contexts, how we might situate or contextualize the readings, or how others might personally respond to/understand the ideas in the readings.

Tip: These should not be comprehension questions, but should be questions that we might choose to discuss in class on Tuesday. You might want to use Part 2 to venture an answer to your question, or you could write Part 2 first, then use Part 1 to consider where the conversation might go next. 

Part 2: Comment:

Pick 3 ideas/themes that you saw in the readings that interest you and explain those connections. For each one, explain the idea/theme in your own words, then explain how the each text engages with that idea (use at least two texts for each). You should write at least 100 words for each idea/theme you choose (300 words minimum) and you should refer to specific details in the texts to support your answers. After reading your response, I should get the sense that you read the assigned readings. However, don't merely summarize--make connections, draw conclusions, ask questions. 

Here are some ideas for things that might connect the readings, but you can present your own! 

• race/class and the use of space


• infrastructure (streets) and racial injustice


• public space and messaging/our values


• "ownership" of public spaces/street ("whose streets")


• symbolic significance of public/street protest


• leisure in public spaces


• reclaiming history/historical significance of current issues related to streets/public spaces


• safety on the streets (for BIPOC)


• importance of the input of black leaders on redesign/remediation

Again, if you choose something from my list, state it in your own words. Don't try to guess what I see, tell me what you see!

Friendly tip: there are no wrong answers. If you see something that is showing up in multiple readings and you can point to examples in the texts as evidence, then that counts as a connection! 

LINK FOR READINGS: https://kinder.rice.edu/urbanedge/2020/06/15/protests-public-space-transportation-inequalities-cities

( of Cities," by Kyle Shelton

• Shelton's article is short, but his hyperlinks enrich the conversation significantly. I want you to read the whole article, then open a couple of hyperlinks and at least skim those. I'm especially interested in the ones he links to in paragraph 3 (3 links) and paragraph 7 (2 links). Try to pick at least one from each of these paragraphs to skim. 

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/07/street-naming-more-performative-gesture/614416/

https://www.businessinsider.com/confederate-statues-removal-slavery-protests-2020-6?jwsource=cl

( Nixdorf (I want you to watch the video. You can read the article if you want clarification on anything in the video, but the article mostly recaps the video.)