Black People, Porches, and Politics (Reading List)

This reading list primarily focuses on the investigation of black domesticity. The search for positive identity politics in architecture has typically proven empty for this racial group. Architecture has always excelled at using the built environment to convey narratives. Unfortunately, that opportunity has rarely materialized in African-American communities. Providing access to narratives undiscovered and often neglected, one can begin to understand and empathize with marginalized communities. The porch is an iconic architectural feature that explores topics of gender, race, and production. While there have been numerous scholarly articles and critical dissections which focus on its legacy, this list contextualizes them from the perspective of spatializing blackness. Additionally it utilizes the kitchen and kitchenette as a lens to view issues of racism, classism, and gender politics. Racism continues to be the most divisive social issue in modern society and the role of architecture in this debate is a missing component of the conversation.