On American traditions of homogeneity and private property:

“Rediscovering an African American Homestead” serves as a telling of the carving out of community public space, from a historical example of racialized space. An urban site in need of economic renewal, not populated by commerce or an ethnic community, is a parking lot turned public exhibit. This project memorializes a historic example, but does it support “residents;” meaning, how does it share the tools with which to establish homestead. Residential space (physically built into the land) has the potentiality to become a source of appreciating value. Rather, is there room for our disenfranchised urban residents to participate within the “larger conceptual framework” of single-family living and suburbia?

I have questions as to whether we can reach beyond race, gender, and class, to larger themes of migration and family structures. Are either of those enough to establish a larger cultural identity?, because our history is not shared. What do we do with the American Cultural Landscape given the trend toward “Generic City” and capitalist space at the price of identity? Would asking this country to give up homogeneity be as unpatriotic as giving up private property?