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The Cosmopolitan Canopy

Elijah Anderson

Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science , Vol. 595, Being Here and Being There: Fieldwork Encounters and Ethnographic Discoveries (Sep., 2004) , pp. 14-31

Published by: Sage Publications, Inc. in association with the American Academy of Political and Social Science

Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4127607

Summary:

Elijah Anderson’s book Cosmopolitan Canopies is an in-depth exploration of race-relations within the ever-evolving urban landscape of Philadelphia’s Center City district.  As a longtime resident of the city, in neighborhoods such as : West Philadelphia, Rittenhouse Square, and Chestnut Hill, he considers himself to an “observing participant” given that he has conducted ethnographic fieldwork while still being an inhabitant of these communities as an engaged citizen, and sociologist.

Historically, Philadelphia has had a relatively large Black/African-American population, but also considered to be incredibly racialized given the make-up of distinct racially/ethnically segregated neighborhoods, which become cohesive inclusive communities.  Overtime Anderson has seen these neighborhoods infrastructure change, but also the inhabitants of these spaces along with it.  His observations are able to provide research and illustrations as to how these people engage one another across racial lines.  Anderson specifically notes that Philadelphia, along with the rest of the country, has become increasingly diverse along due to laws and legislation advocating for equal rights across racial lines, but also policies that advocate for tolerance such as affirmative action.

Although these policies were intended to secure racial equality, they have also been able to promote ideals of goodwill and civility, in which Anderson argues have allowed for “Cosmopolitan Canopies” to emerge.  Throughout the book Anderson is able to provide a spectrum of these canopies in order to illustrate the universal norm of racial tolerance that has been institutionalized in these spaces, however we see that through his ethnographic fieldwork that racial stereotypes are still very much present within these interpersonal interactions and the held-beliefs of Philadelphians.  In conclusion, Elijah Anderson’s book argues that although these racial tensions still linger within urban areas that these “canopies” provide a space for a diverse spectrum of people to interact with one another—thus creating more tolerance and civility amongst city dwellers leading to a more integrated metropolis.