Geography, Geographers, and the Geographies of Antiracism by Andrea Choi A thesis submitted to the Department of Geography and Planning In conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Queen’s University Kingston, Ontario, Canada February 2018 Copyright © Andrea Choi, 2018 Abstract This research builds upon contemporary understandings of the roles of race, whiteness, and antiracism within the practice and profession of geography in North America. A Foucauldian approach to intellectual genealogy, Critical Race Theory, and the experiences of geographers of colour are used to trace the development of antiracist thought within dominant approaches in human geography. The biographies, personal narratives, and professional genealogies of antiracist geographers of colour in the United States and Canada reveal the connections between personal experiences of racism and a relentless push for antiracist research and practice. An in-depth analysis of the scholarly contributions of three prominent antiracist geographers of colour further highlights the relationship between identity and personal experiences in the advancement of geographic theory. In identifying geographers as geographic subjects, an emphasis is placed on the hierarchy of racial knowledge and the importance of the location from where, and by whom, geographic knowledges are produced. While efforts to attract more people of colour into the profession of geography have been made since the 1960s, the practice and production of geography in the United States and Canada remains deeply racialized. The consistently small number of geographers of colour in North America geography departments and geography’s limited engagement with critical race research points to the continued power of whiteness in shaping the production of both geographers and geographic knowledge. Despite the more than 50-year age span between the youngest and oldest geographers interviewed, troubling thematic trends of experiences of racism as geography graduate students and as faculty members emerged. Whiteness and racism continue to pervade the discipline of geography in North America and the barriers discouraging the practice and development of antiracist geographies remain strong. i Dedication To the trouble-making, back-talking, day-dreaming, question-asking, racialized, and rebellious kids of Scarborough who refuse to be crushed by the education system— you are more brilliant and brave, limitless, and powerful than you can ever imagine ii Acknowledgements In many ways, this PhD project started twelve years ago while in the middle of my undergraduate degree. I came across an article by Audrey Kobayashi on whiteness and representation in the discipline of geography and soon found myself combing through journal articles on racism and whiteness, feeling lucky to have stumbled into an intellectual space that actually made sense to me. Thank you, Audrey, for your unwavering support of my academic pursuits, and your leadership, and dedication to transforming the discipline of geography. Thank you to all the antiracist geographers of colour who shared their stories and participated in this research project—I find comfort in knowing you are out there doing great work. I would especially like to thank Harold Rose and Bobby Wilson for generously sharing their stories and insights with me. Engaging with your life histories was profoundly moving and I am tremendously grateful for having the opportunity to learn from both of you. To my family, friends, and colleagues who cheered me on, provided support, and have shown great kindness and patience: thank you. In particular, I would like to thank Beverley Mullings for your support and encouragement over the years. Your remarkable ability to instill a sense of calm and clarity as I navigate graduate school is cherished. A special thank you to the lifelong friends I have made at Queen’s: Hannah, Christine, Jie, and Vanessa. The epic shared meals, nights out, and laughter have kept me going. Mom, Dad, and Andy: thank you for your love, support, and patience. Lastly, and with love and gratitude, I would like to thank my sister, Lisa, for her unconditional support, encouragement, and humor. There’s no other person I would want more on this surreal journey with me. iii Table of Contents Abstract ...................................................................................................................................... i Dedication ................................................................................................................................. ii Acknowledgments.................................................................................................................... iii List of Abbreviations ............................................................................................................... vi Glossary .................................................................................................................................. vii Chapter 1 Introduction: Antiracism and Whiteness in Geography ..............................1 1.1 Purpose ...................................................................................................5 1.2 Outline of chapters .................................................................................8 1.3 Literature Review...................................................................................9 Chapter 2 Methodology and Methods: Critical Race Theory, Genealogy, and Interviews with Antiracist Geographers 2.1 Critical Race Theory (CRT) ................................................................38 2.2 Genealogy ............................................................................................44 2.3 Methods ...................................................................................................... 54 Chapter 3 Harold Rose - In-depth Interview ................................................................70 3.1 Early Years and Educational Path........................................................71 3.2 Tenure-Track Position at the University of Milwaukee ......................77 3.3 Involvement with the AAG ..................................................................91 Chapter 4 Bobby Wilson - In-depth Interview ..............................................................99 4.1 Childhood, Youth, and the Civil Rights Movement ............................99 4.2 Becoming a Geographer: North Carolina Central and Clark University ............................................................................................................105 4.3 Recruiting Students into Geography Graduate Programs ..................121 Chapter 5 Audrey Kobayashi - In-depth Interview ....................................................131 5.1 Childhood, Japanese Canadian Identity, and Higher Education ........131 5.2 The Beginning of a Professional Career in Geography .....................142 5.3 Key Moments in Antiracist Geography .............................................151 Chapter 6 The Genealogy of Antiracist Geographies through the work and lives of Harold Rose, Bobby Wilson, and Audrey Kobayashi ..............................163 6.1 Harold, Behavioral Geography, and Critical Race Analysis .............165 6.2 Bobby and Audrey: Influential Humanistic and Radical Geographers ............................................................................................................179 6.3 A Review of Bobby Wilson and Audrey Kobayashi’s Publications in Antiracist Geography .........................................................................197 6.3.1 Bobby Wilson –Antiracism and Marxism .............................198 6.3.2 Audrey Kobayashi – Feminism, Antiracism, and Intersectionality......................................................................210 iv Chapter 7 Becoming an Antiracist Geographer: Childhoods, Place, and Experiences of Racism in Geography Graduate Programs ...........................................219 Chapter 8 Racism in Geography: Experiences as Faculty Members ........................266 Chapter 9 Conclusion ....................................................................................................307 References ..............................................................................................................................315 Appendices .............................................................................................................................325 v List of Abbreviations AAG Association of American Geographers CLS Critical Legal Studies COMGA Commission on Geography and Afro-America CRT Critical Race Theory DTF Diversity Task Force Florida A&M Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University HBCUs Historically Black Colleges and Universities REP Race, Ethnicity and Place UBC University of British Columbia UCLA University of California, Los Angeles vi Glossary Antiracism The practice of challenging racism through societal and institutional means; actions that oppose white hegemony. Antiracist geography Challenging racism through the institution of geography or a geographic lens; actions and research that oppose white hegemony within geographic thought and practice. Negro [sic] A contested term used widely in North th America from the 19 century until the 1960s, referring to people who appear to have black skin; since the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, Black and African American have largely been used to replace the term Negro due to the history of slavery and discrimination