Al Mills’ and Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha’s (The Twin Poets) poem “Dreams are Illegal” (2015) raises the still occurring problem of residential segregation especially by racial or ethnic groups in the United States. This problem can be exemplified by focusing on Georgia’s capital city Atlanta, a city whose history has been coined by the civil rights movement, also since it is Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth city.
Although the Fair Housing Act came into force in 1968, which prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin, there is still inequality and residential segregation that can be discovered in the demographics of the city’s neighborhoods. It is deeply connected to Foucault’s concepts of biopolitics, biopower and race, Agamben’s idea of Homo Sacer and Kristeva’s theory of the abject. The following essay will therefore focus on the interrelation of these concepts, the application on the occurring problems in the city of Atlanta and how they are presented in The Twin Poet’s poem.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Analysis of Biopolitics and Residential Segregation in Atlanta
3. Application to "Dreams Are Illegal"
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This essay explores the persistence of residential segregation in Atlanta, Georgia, by examining the intersection of Foucault’s biopolitics, Agamben’s concept of Homo Sacer, and Kristeva’s theory of the abject. It investigates how systemic racism and urban planning continue to marginalize African American communities despite legislative efforts like the Fair Housing Act.
- Theoretical application of biopolitics and biopower to urban spatial segregation.
- The impact of "white flight" and new urbanism projects on racial demographics.
- Disparities in access to public infrastructure, including transportation and education.
- Literary analysis of Al Mills' and Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha's poem "Dreams are Illegal".
Excerpt from the Book
Biopolitics and residential segregation in the US
Al Mills’ and Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha’s (The Twin Poets) poem “Dreams are Illegal” (2015) raises the still occurring problem of residential segregation especially by racial or ethnic groups in the United States. This problem can be exemplified by focusing on Georgia’s capital city Atlanta, a city whose history has been coined by the civil rights movement, also since it is Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth city. Although the Fair Housing Act came into force in 1968, which prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin (U.S. Department of Housing), there is still inequality and residential segregation that can be discovered in the demographics of the city’s neighborhoods (Pooley, 2015). It is deeply connected to Foucault’s concepts of biopolitics, biopower and race, Agamben’s idea of Homo Sacer and Kristeva’s theory of the abject. The following essay will therefore focus on the interrelation of these concepts, the application on the occurring problems in the city of Atlanta and how they are presented in The Twin Poet’s poem.
Atlanta has according to the American Community Survey (ACS) demographics a population of 51.85% Black or African American and 40.27% White inhabitants (United States Census). But instead of finding heterogenous neighborhoods it can be noticed that there is a major racial divide within the city. Holloway et al. present that there is an increase in black dominant, homogeneous neighborhoods (77). Additionally, there is a so-called “white flight”, meaning that white Americans prefer living in neighborhoods with a majority of white population, which leads to residential segregation. This results in a concentration of African Americans in the South and metro region of Atlanta (Pooley, 2015; Karner & Duckworth, 2019).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Introduces the core problematic of persistent residential segregation in Atlanta and outlines the theoretical framework involving Foucault, Agamben, and Kristeva.
2. Analysis of Biopolitics and Residential Segregation in Atlanta: Analyzes how urban projects, transportation policies, and educational disparities function as tools of biopower to maintain racial exclusion.
3. Application to "Dreams Are Illegal": Connects the abstract sociological concepts to the specific imagery and themes found within the poem "Dreams are Illegal" by the Twin Poets.
4. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, confirming that while legal protections exist, structural racism continues to define the spatial landscape and limit the prospects of African American communities in Atlanta.
Keywords
Biopolitics, Residential Segregation, Atlanta, Racism, Foucault, Agamben, Kristeva, The Twin Poets, Dreams are Illegal, White Flight, Urban Planning, Public Transportation, Education Disparities, Social Exclusion, Homo Sacer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this essay?
The essay explores the ongoing problem of residential segregation in Atlanta, Georgia, and how it is sustained through systemic mechanisms of power and racial exclusion.
What theoretical concepts are used to frame the analysis?
The work utilizes Michel Foucault’s concepts of biopolitics and biopower, Giorgio Agamben’s notion of the Homo Sacer, and Julia Kristeva’s theory of the abject.
What is the main research focus regarding the city of Atlanta?
It examines how demographic divides, "white flight," and uneven access to infrastructure like public transport and quality schools perpetuate a cycle of inequality for African American residents.
How does the author incorporate literature into the analysis?
The essay analyzes the poem "Dreams are Illegal" by the Twin Poets to illustrate the lived experience of racial segregation and the "stolen dreams" of marginalized communities.
What is the conclusion regarding the effectiveness of the Fair Housing Act?
The author argues that despite the Fair Housing Act, significant spatial segregation persists due to more subtle, structural forms of exclusion that continue to favor white-majority areas.
Which key themes characterize the overall work?
The central themes are spatial inequality, the biopolitics of space, systemic racism, social exclusion, and the potential for hope through political representation.
How do "new urbanism" projects contribute to the problems described?
The paper suggests that these projects often serve to "whiten" previously diverse spaces, intentionally or effectively displacing non-white residents from certain neighborhoods.
What role does the 2017 mayoral election in Atlanta play in the essay?
It serves as a counterpoint to the prevailing atmosphere of hopelessness, suggesting that political change and empowerment offer a pathway toward a brighter future for the black population.
- Quote paper
- Sophie Stiebig (Author), 2020, Biopolitics and spatial segregation in Atlanta, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/994823
