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CITYZENSHIP
Praxis in the Urban Environment

tisnotenoughforpeopletocometogetherindialogueinordertogainknowledgeoftheirsocialreality. Theymustacttogetherupontheirenvironmentinordercriticallytoreflectupontheirrealityandsotransform itthroughfurtheractionandcriticalreflection. PauloFreire

Prolegomenon
Examinationofthecitythroughadesignecologicallensyieldedsalientinsightsinto urbaninterventionasbothartandscience.WhilePaulKnoxsexploresthecomplex relationshipsbetweendesignandurbanenvironmentsinhisCitiesandDesign,1Dennis DaltonusedhisMahatmaGandhi:NonviolentPowerinActiontofleshoutGandhis conceptofswarajandsatyagrahabeforedrawingparallelsbetweenGandhiononehand, andMalcolmXandDr.Kingontheother.Thescholarlyinsightofbothauthors complementedtheurbaninterventionsofthecoursesguestlecturers.Forexample, ChristineGasparofCUPspokeabouturbanpedagogy,thepracticeoftakingcomplex issuesandbreakingthemdownintosimple,accessible,visualexplanations2 PaulWhite ofTransportationAlternativesspokeontransportationnetworksvialegislativeadvocacy andDr.VeraTangaricommentedonsustainableurbanhabitationandNatureman mediation.Thesetwolensprovokedaseriousinquiryintomyidentity,behavior,and practiceasanurbanist. Thetwinthemesofreflectionandactioninformurbanpracticeasartandscience. Theintersectionofreflectionandactiongeneratesnewpsychologicalawarenessofand insightsintonotionsofidentity(whotobe),behavior(howtoconductoneself),andpractice

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Coursesyllabus http://welcometocup.org/(Accessedon12/13/12)

(howtointentionallyintervene)toaffectconscientization3intheurbanenvironment.This conscientization,embodiedintheCITYzenconcept,reflectsastrong,personalconnection totheurbanenvironmentinordertointervenestrategicallyandeffectively.Thisessay offersaproposalforwhatthiscanlooklike.ThesectionentitledDisruptiveDesign introducestheprimaryfacetsoftheCITYzenmodelanditsdisruptiveapproach.Finding MyMoexplorestheconnotativeaspectoftheCITYzenmodelthatisinstrumentalin generatingnewpsychologicalinsights.Thefinalsectionentitled,WhatNext,posits practicalwaysinwhichtheCITYzenmodelcanbeadoptedintheurbanenvironment.The CITYzenmodelrepresentsapraxisapproachrootedintheurbanenvironment.

Disruptive Design
Byitsverydesign,theCITYzenmodelisdisruptivetonormativeprocessesof identityandexpression.Itismorethanaplayonwords,substitutingtheletterifory rather,itisthepolitical,socialandpersonalrecognitionofonesparticularidentity, behavior,andpracticeinthecity.Thereflectionactionaxialplanfunctionsasthecreative sourceoftheCITYzenmodelconscientizationcannottakeplacewithoutit. The Reflection-Action Axis Theaxissdecumanus,reflection,involvestheruminationofalimitsituationandits designinordertodetectitsdisguiseconcealtransformlogic.InGandhianterms,this meantswaraj,personalruleorselfrealization,attainedthroughknowledgeand

Theprocessofdevelopingacriticalawarenessofonessocialrealitythroughreflectionandaction.From http://www.freire.org/paulofreire/conceptsusedbypaulofreire/(Accessedon12/12/12)

examinationofoneself.4TheindividualwhostrivestobeaCITYzenmustfirstachievethis inwardfreedominordertoeffectfreedomoutward.InNewYorkCity,contestationsabout identityareconcernedwithprimaryclassificationsofraceandsexandwithmorenuanced categoriesbasedonneighborhood,religion,andsocialtastes.Beneaththeidentity perceivedbytheobserveristheidentitythatisbeingconstructedandseeking selfexpressionbytheobserved. Theaxiscardo,action,requiresinterventionintheurbanenvironmentthatseeksto bringtheproductsofthereflectivemomentintofruition.Thisactingupontheurban environmentgeneratesnewideas,images,andmomentsthatcanenterintothereflection processfollowingtheactivemoment.ForGandhi,thismeanttheabilitytoconvertinward freedomintopoliticalaction.Thissatyagrahimustbeabletoconcentrateonthecommon interestandstrivenotforretributionbuttotransformaconflictsituationsothatthewarring partiescancomeoutofaconfrontationconvincedthatitwasintheirmutualinterestto resolveit.5Thisdoesnotmeanthatsuchactionlacksteethorshouldbethoughtofasa weaponoftheweakGandhimadesuretopointoutthateconomicequalityisthemaster keytononviolentindependence.6 The1964MontgomeryBusBoycottdrewonGandhis martialimageryofanonviolentarmyarmedwithtruthforce.7 BesidescatapultingDr. Kingtothenationalspotlight,itconfirmedGandhiseconomicobservationinanirrefutable way.Thenonviolent,economicboycottofthebuscompanyledtothedesegregationofcity busesandsparkedthenationalcivilrightsmovement.

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Dalton,p.6 Dalton,p.9 6 Dalton,p.8 7 Dalton,p.95

Conscientization AccordingtoPauloFreire,conscientizationistheprocessofdevelopingacritical awarenessofonessocialrealitythroughreflectionandaction.8 Atonce,thisawareness indicatestheinterventionofthecreativespiritintheurbanfieldanddangersthatarisefrom suchinterventions,bothinternallyandexternally.Again,Gandhisexperienceisillustrative. Inpreparationforhissaltmarch,Gandhirecruitedfrommembersofhisownashram becausetheypossessedtrainingthatsteeledthemnotonlyforthetrektoDandi,but perhapsmoreimportantlyforthemonthsofrigorousimprisonmentthatwouldfollow.9 TheCITYzenmodelgeneratescreativetensionwithitssonicallyrelatednamesake, citizen.Thistensioncomesfromthefactthatwhiletheprimaryculturaldefinitionofcitizen denotessomeonewhoanativeornaturalizedmemberofastateornationwhoowes allegiancetoitsgovernmentandisentitledtoitsprotection10 ,CITYzenshiplackssocial currency,validity,ordefinition.Thesecondarydefinitionofcitizenshipcarriesgreater promiseaninhabitantofacityortown,especiallyoneentitledtoitsprivilegesor franchises. TheCITYzenmodelgeneratesinternalconflictsaswell.Freirerecognizedthatwe allacquiresocialmythswhichhaveadominanttendency,andsolearningisacritical processwhichdependsuponuncoveringrealproblemsandactualneeds.11 Envisioning oneselfasaCITYzenmeansthatcriticalexaminationoftheinternalizedassumptionsand prejudgmentsresultsinapsychologicalexperienceakintotheswallowingofJonahbythe

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http://www.freire.org/paulofreire/conceptsusedbypaulofreire/(Accessedon12/12/12) Dalton,p.104 10 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/citizen?s=t&ld=1128(Accessedon12/12/12) 11 http://www.freire.org/paulofreire/conceptsusedbypaulofreire/(Accessedon12/12/12)

whale.Thispassageofthethresholdfromoldtonewwaysofthinkingisaformof selfannihilationthatallowsonetopassbackandforthacrossthehorizonsofthe world...throughallthecontrariesofthephenomenalitybecausethereisnothingtofear.12 Malcolmspokeofthisbellyinthewahleexperiencewhenherecountedhisritede passageofsinkingtotheverybottomoftheAmericanwhitemanssociety.13 Malcolms contestationwithAmericansociety,brandedastheserpent,thedragonwhenhewasa ministerintheNationofIslam,canbeseenasareferencetothemythologicallyslayingof thedragonbythehero(St.George).Moreimportantly,theseexternalreferencesreflected aninner,psychologicalturmoilbetweentheidentityconductpracticehereceivedfromhis fatherandthatreceivedfromwhitesociety.Theimplicationsofthisexperiencewould eventuallyleadtotheestablishmentofanurbanpracticeinHarlem,NY. Community of Practice TheCITYzeninterventionistapproachenvisionsacommunityofpracticethatis composedofanetworkofactorsinteractingatthelocal,county,andthecitylevelsinfive keyparadigmsofurbanlifeeducation,publicsafety,theeconomy,socialrelations,and politics.Theefficientfunctioningofsocietyandmodernliferequiresthattheseneedsbe addressedandsatisfied.Schoolsshelterandeducatetheyoungworkprovidesand generatesincometomeetindividualneedsandsocietalresponsibilitiespublicsafety preservesasafeenvironmenttoliveinsocialemphasizesasystemofsentimentsfor viewingandourselvesandinteractingwithotherandthepoliticalbringsleadersofvarious politicaldivisionstoaddressandsolvecitywideandlocalproblems.Theecology

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Cambell,TheHerowithaThousandFaces,p.93 Dalton,p.172

generatedfromthebuiltenvironmentandtheproducersandconsumersinthosesettings reflectsafieldforintervention.Forexample,theeducationfieldiscomposedofteachers andadministrationinthelocalschools,superintendentsandnetworksattheboroughlevel, andeducrats(commissioner)atcityhall. SouthAfricaprovidedthelaboratoryforGandhisexperimentitprovedanexcellent testingground14 forhisinterventionasaCITYzenofSouthAfricathemassmeetingon September11isanexemplar.GandhiscallforresistanceoftheDraftAsiaticLaw AmendmentOrdinancethroughcivildisobediencesoughttobringtheplightoftheIndian, Arab,andTurkcommunities(local)totheTransvaalgovernment(provincial).Thepolitical implicationswerenotlostonGandhiasheacknowledgedthatourveryexistenceinSouth Africadependsuponourfullyobservingit.15 Gandhipossessedaviewofthelawthatwas connectedtonotionsofcitizenshipandofficialrecognitionbythestate.Intakingastand againstthegovernment,GandhidemonstratedthatitispossibletobeaCITYzeneven thoughonescitizenshipisthreatenedorexcluded.Insodoing,theindividualexpandsthe boundaryofwhatispossible.GandhinotonlyassertedhisCITYzenshipdespitebeinga memberofadespisedgroup,heproposedtheacquisitionofcitizenshipthrough CITYzenship. LikeGandhi,MalcolmmadethelinkagebetweencitizenshipandCITYzenship, offeringthecorollarythatitisthroughCITYzenshipthatcitizenshipisactuallyexperienced andrealized.MalcolmlocatedhispracticeinHarlem,choosingitforitshistorically, culturally,andeconomicallysignificance.Infact,Malcolmwasdeliberateinhisurbanist
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Dalton,p.15 Dalton,p.13

approach,statingin1964thatwestartinNewYorkCityfirst.WestartinHarlem...start righthereinHarlem,whichhasthelargestconcentrationofpeopleofAfricandescentthat existsanywhereonthisearth.16 ThroughhisnonprofitOrganizationforAfroAmerican Unity,Malcolmdevelopedafiveprongplanthatincludedpublicsafety,theeconomy,and urbanpolitics.Forexample,hispoliticalprogramsoughttoincreaseparticipationinthe politicalsystemthroughavoterregistrationdrive,aligninghimwithhiscounterpartsinthe south.

Finding MyMo
TheCITYzenmodelanticipatesinterventionintheurbanenvironmentthatwill inspirenewmodesofproductionandconsumptionthroughmythologicalmoments.Gandhi providesanotherexemplarinhismarchtotheseatoprotesttheBritishtaxonsalt. GandhispreparationforthewalkremindedoneobserverofLordBuddhasGreatMarch toattainwisdom...itwasjustlikeBuddhasmarchofrenunciation.17 Anduponreachingthe sea,Gandhideployedasetofsymbolicactionsandlanguagetoevokethemythological moment.HissubmergenceintheIndianOceanandemergencefromitrepresentedthe successfullycompletionofonestageandthebeginningofanother.Afterward,hewould pickupagrainofsalttosignaldefianceagainstthetaxoftheBritishgovernment. Themythologicalmomentwasalsocreatedthroughaseriesofmonumental movementstobringtheShuttleEnterprisetotheIntrepidAir&SpaceMuseum.The choreographedflightofthewhiteplanepasttheStatueofLibertyalongtheHudsonRiver

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http://www.blackpast.org/?q=1964malcolmxsspeechfoundingrallyorganizationafroamericanunity (Accessedon12/12/12) 17 Dalton,p.109

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corridorsignalledaneweraforNewYorkCitytheemergenceoftheSTEMindustryasan economicengineinthe21stcentury. TheCITYzenmodelpositstheurbanistasonewhodeploysimages,symbols,and othervisualstoproduceashiftinperspective.Anexampleofthiscomesfromasemester longprojectonheritagedesignationinSunsetPark.Withinthiswaterfrontneighborhoodin Brooklyn,thefederalgovernmentrecognizedasquarepatchasahistoricaldistrictforits architecturallysignificantchurches,schools,andresidentialbuildings.ACITYzen interestedinSunsetParkcanactivatethehistoricalsignificanceofthisneighborhood throughaprocessthatreimaginesitsidentityasaplazaembeddedwithscience, technology,engineeringandmathinthebuiltenvironment,rituals,andperformances.Such aspaceisrelevanttothelingualcommunitieslivingthereitevokestheeconomicactivity ofBrooklynsotherplaza,KingsPlazaandthelargeplazasofLatinAmericaandAsia.This wouldplacetheSunsetParkcommunityattheintersectionofthebioandagricultural sciencesciencesattheBrooklynArmyTerminal,thewatersciencesatthewaterfront,and thehealthsciencesatLutheranMedicalCenter. SunsetParksstrategiclocationallowstheemploymentofvariousnomenclatureto identifyandcharacterizeitwhileitsofficialnomenclaturewouldremaintheSunsetPark HistoricalDistrict,CITYzensofSunsetParkwouldseeitinmoregranularways.AsSTEM Campus,therearescientificlinkagestothewaterfront.As(La)Plaza,itisrecognizable toLatinos,Asians,andEnglishspeakers.AstheHeights,SunsetParkisthecommunity onthehillthatretainsacoolimageforitsyoungpeople.AndasEarthrise,theSunset Parkcommunityisonethatisnotonthedeclineasthenamefaintlyevokeswiththeimage

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ofasettingsun.Rather,itboldlystatesthatSunsetParkisontherise.

What Next?
AsanaturalizedcitizenshipoftheUnitedStates,Istraddletwoworlds.Oneworldis theoneleftbehindtocometothisnewworld.Ihaveattendedschool,foundemployment, andleft(butalwaysreturning)sincemyarrivalinNewYorkCity24yearsago.Inthisnew incarnationofmypresencehere,Ihavegrowntoappreciatejusthowimmenseand complexthiscityis.Thisiswhatmakesitsoattractiveandsodullingatthesametime.I havealsoappreciatedhowdifficulttheworkisofgeneratingchange.Thesimplestideas maytakeyearstomaterializeandchangeismeasuredindecadesandcenturies,leaving verylittletimetoseethechangesohotlycontestedfor.ButIamassuredinarealandvital waywheneverIgazeattheStatueofLibertythatitcanbedone.Seeingherholdhertorch fromtheManhattanBridgeremindsmetopursueandcapturethatgoldenmomentinmy lifethathertorchrepresents. MyyearsasaNewYorkerhasbroughtmetothismomentwhereIcanbeginto detectthepossibilitiesofmyplaceinNewYorkCityIcanconceiveofmypresenceand participationasaCITYzenofthiscity.Iamempoweredtodevelopaspecificstrategyto interveneinmyowncommunityandtosaywithurbanfluency:Itisinthecreaturesofthis worldthattheDelectableMountainsofourPilgrimsProgressarediscovered,andwhere theradianceoftheCityofGodisrecognizedasMan.18

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Campbell,TheMasksofGod:CreativeMythology,p.26