The Cosmopolitan Canopy: Race and Civility in Everyday Life

The author gives an easily understand discussion of the black community's understanding of and interaction with the white community. The canopy or canopies, a type of psychological protection, actually cover all of society, where any culture can have dispositions or influences that cause suspicions of others but show civility in racially integrated settings. There are public spaces which allow all skin colors and cultures to relax and come together. "In public, stereotypically, white skin color is most often associated with respectability, civility, and trust, and black skin color is associated with poverty, danger, and distrust - above all, with regard to anonymous young males." But segregated neighborhoods and the cosmopolitan canopy can exist simultaneously. Whether in a public setting or the workplace, when people of two races present themselves as civil and friendly they can simply coexist. However, anonymous blacks, especially black males must prove themselves no matter what characteristics they display. A black male must prove himself as law-abiding and trustworthy.Each element, both black and white, must make a quick assessment, within a few seconds, to determine the future of a simple, elementary relationship. "Under the canopy, strangers can feel secure and comfortable enough with one another to extend themselves and interact across racial lines.The author describes two attitudes or orientations many blacks have that causes certain assumptions and behaviors. Ethno-centric blacks, whites and other races or cultures stick with their family and friends, or their own group which is most often defined by skin color. Cosmopolitans, on the other hand, value individuality and achievement. Both inclinations influence racial conduct. Both philosophies can be experienced at the same time depending upon the situation, but ethno-centrists feel more comfortable working and socializing with their own. The historical fact that white society has long debased the black community has fed the outlook of black suspicion and distrust of white society.

Dr. Anderson's compelling narrative provides powerful insight into the people and places of our hometown of Philadelphia, and by extension, to mixed-demographic cities throughout the US. Very readable and interesting; colorful and scholarly.

Anderson addresses many of the issues that have plagued me as a city dweller pretty much all my life. How do we know whom to trust on the street? How can we tell who is safe and who isn't? How can we conduct ourselves to avoid giving offense? A lot of the criteria we use for these snap judgments can be called into question by carefully dissecting social interactions in a way that does not shame anyone for having basic fears or biases. Anderson brings a sociologist's powers of observation together with an engaging descriptive and narrative style that's not too full of jargon.So, can our social problems be solved through better design alone? A lot of new urbanists would have us think so. One of Anderson's main themes is the design public spaces that foster civility and a sense of shared ownership. He does this by examining spaces in his hometown of Philadelphia where this actually occurs and tries to figure out what makes these spaces work. The right space brings out the "cosmopolite" in everyone, whereas other spaces tend to reinforce membership in a particular group and distrust of outsiders.

A lot of smart people don't know much about ethnography - what it is, why it's conducted, or what it could be useful for. Cosmopolitan Canopy is a great example of how ethnography can be useful.Anderson explores how physical space, behavior, and race intermingle in open spaces in central Philadelphia - an indoor market, a mall, and a park. He argues that some urban spaces create a 'cosmopolitan canopy' where people can (safely) act certain kinds of behaviors, focusing in particular on explorations of race.The book a rare combination of being well-written (and easy and fun to read) and thorough and insightful, and shows how ethnography can be a valuable tool in exploring the topic of race in contemporary America.This book belongs alongside Mitchell Duneier's classic Slim's Table, both for its exploration of race and as a first-rate example of how ethnography should be done.

As one interested in racial justice for a lifetime, I greatly appreciated this approach. Somewhat of a new comer to the city of Philadelphia, I provided new insight into race relations, both historically and currently. Look forward to both meeting the author and reading more of his works.

A tour of interactions and conversations in the life of a big city - Philadelphia - that gives us a vision of how fulfilling civic life can be and how challenging it often is for black citizens and families.

I have followed Anderson's work and this book certainly departs from his earlier books in terms of tone and empirical object. Cosmopolitan Canopy reads as 2 books. The first includes a walking tour of Philadelphia and extended discussion of civil, interracial and intercultural spaces Anderson names the book after. This part of the book felt a bit thin despite the fact that it contained much more thick description than the second half of the book. In the latter chapters Anderson writes about the complexities of a life lived in a raced world characterized by increasing erosion of structural limitations to Intergroup contact. Although this part of the text is thin on ethnography, it carries significant emotional weight as the lament of a member of the AA middle

Fantastic read. Well thought out and easy to read and understand. We are using it as a discussion forum at my church. Hopefully it helps us all to better understand the conflicts of our time and be better stewards for a future for all to mean all.

In the UK researchers talk of different ethic groups existing alongside each other with 'conviviality'. A group of Polish men playing football next to some Pakistani-British playing cricket and some picnicking white English. Respectful distance is maintained, balls returned and greetings exchanged. People rub along together fine, each leading their lives.This book looks at the the US equivalent, a 'canopy of comity'. Sometimes the racial/color (sic) lines are crossed, sometimes not, and sometimes there are major or minor rips (rents in the canopy (p141).This is ethnography and influenced perhaps by Goffman, Anderson describes and analyses how the 'players' consciously and sub-consciously interact.How, 'can I help you ,sir?' may be an aggressive challenge to a Black man attempting to occupy a 'white space', (an expensive restaurant) rather than an offer of help. The white aggressor racially profiling and giving Blackness a 'master status' possibly knows this and the Black man definitely does; both are playing their roles.Anderson looks at many different parts of Philadelphia and evokes a reality that comes to life with a story-like quality. The whole book for me illuminated and resonated even though I have never been to the USA; it rings authentic and feels a bit like England in many ways.It's also scholarly and methodologically sound. A wonderful book that strides boundaries and was a pleasure to read.£15 well spent; a five star+ book.

The "cosmopolitan canopy" is a useful and interesting metaphor, and I enjoyed Anderson's description of how sociability works in them, but I wish the book had said more about how and why such spaces come to be.