Placing race: On the resonance of place with black geographies

Abstract

A range of conceptual terms and diverse theoretical traditions have been used to study geographies of race. Black geographical scholarship has persuasively articulated the need to better understand black agency and experiences. We suggest that the conceptual lens of place, and specifically relational place-making, is particularly congruent with the black geographical interest in agency, experience, and non-material spatial practices. It is also an ontological position that maintains possibilities for multiplicity, considering plural processes, and incorporating diverse methodologies and data sources. Our hope is that this paper contributes conceptual and terminological clarity, enhancing the legibility of the contribution of black geographical scholarship.