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Segregation: A Global History of Divided Cities
When we think of segregation, what often comes to mind is apartheid South Africa, or the American South in the age of Jim Crow—two societies fundamentally premised on the concept of the separation of the races. But as Carl H. Nightingale shows us in this magisterial history, segregation is everywhere, deforming cities and societies worldwide.
Starting with segregation’s ancient roots, and what the archaeological evidence reveals about humanity’s long-standing use of urban divisions to reinforce political and economic inequality, Nightingale then moves to the world of European colonialism. It was there, he shows, segregation based on color—and eventually on race—took hold; the British East India Company, for example, split Calcutta into “White Town” and “Black Town.” As we follow Nightingale’s story around the globe, we see that division replicated from Hong Kong to Nairobi, Baltimore to San Francisco, and more. The turn of the twentieth century saw the most aggressive segregation movements yet, as white communities almost everywhere set to rearranging whole cities along racial lines. Nightingale focuses closely on two striking Johannesburg, with its state-sponsored separation, and Chicago, in which the goal of segregation was advanced by the more subtle methods of real estate markets and housing policy.
For the first time ever, the majority of humans live in cities, and nearly all those cities bear the scars of segregation. This unprecedented, ambitious history lays bare our troubled past, and sets us on the path to imagining the better, more equal cities of the future.
Starting with segregation’s ancient roots, and what the archaeological evidence reveals about humanity’s long-standing use of urban divisions to reinforce political and economic inequality, Nightingale then moves to the world of European colonialism. It was there, he shows, segregation based on color—and eventually on race—took hold; the British East India Company, for example, split Calcutta into “White Town” and “Black Town.” As we follow Nightingale’s story around the globe, we see that division replicated from Hong Kong to Nairobi, Baltimore to San Francisco, and more. The turn of the twentieth century saw the most aggressive segregation movements yet, as white communities almost everywhere set to rearranging whole cities along racial lines. Nightingale focuses closely on two striking Johannesburg, with its state-sponsored separation, and Chicago, in which the goal of segregation was advanced by the more subtle methods of real estate markets and housing policy.
For the first time ever, the majority of humans live in cities, and nearly all those cities bear the scars of segregation. This unprecedented, ambitious history lays bare our troubled past, and sets us on the path to imagining the better, more equal cities of the future.
536 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 7, 2023
This book was something I hadn't really expected to find: a study of urban segregation as a general phenomenon of European Imperialism, rather than its specifics in a given settler state (usually the United States).
Much of the book is devoted to the development of segregation regimes in European trading colonies in South, Southeast, and East Asia, before similar techniques were imported to South Africa and the United States in the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries. Although it discusses the specifics of segregation, especially in its early stages, it seems to primarily be interested in the ideological justifications that were developed for segregation, as well as the legal and economic techniques used to implement it, and how they spread worldwide.
Much of the book is devoted to the development of segregation regimes in European trading colonies in South, Southeast, and East Asia, before similar techniques were imported to South Africa and the United States in the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries. Although it discusses the specifics of segregation, especially in its early stages, it seems to primarily be interested in the ideological justifications that were developed for segregation, as well as the legal and economic techniques used to implement it, and how they spread worldwide.
March 26, 2015
Three dimensional historical reporting on an urban term that is often regulated to race politics in the US.
May 7, 2014
Solid. Well researched. Interesting trajectory of city splitting from India out. Also helpful breakdown of de factor and de jure dichotomy.
March 31, 2023
"Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever! - George C. Wallace
Segregation is one of the tools at the Elites' disposal, used to maintain their superiority among the rest, unwashed, different, others. While as a word, and policy, segregation was commonly associated with United States of America with its Jim Crow Era, or South Africa's Apartheid, segregation had been longer with us longer than that, with its form could be discovered as earliest as in Sumerian Era.
However, the legally justified form of (urban) civilization was conceived for the first time by the British, when the colonized India. First justifying the segregation for military security and safety for their trading posts, when they became more comfortable with their Imperial trappings, the excuses shifted to maintaining public health up to outright white supremacy.
While the Brits started it, the practice of segregation was being perfected around its colonies, from South Africa, while Apartheid was established by the Afrikaner-dominated National Party, the seed was sown by the Pro-English people earlier. And in America, the innovations to segregation were found, among them keeping the neighborhood white in order to keep the real estate price high. While in Germany, practice of segregation led to Jewish Holocaust.
Although now civil rights triumphed and segregation as an institution is no more, in fact the practice continue, even in the third world countries. As people become richer, while wealth is distributed inequally, the slum areas continue to sprawl across the country, or the urban areas became more ghettoized, while the elites retreated into the suburbs. In order to create a more equal society, segregation is indeed, one of the problems that needs to be tackled.
This informative, although sometimes exhausting, is disappointing because, despite its large volume, it tended to pin the sins of segregation to Anglo-Saxon societies, as if other people around the world did not practice segregation.
Segregation is one of the tools at the Elites' disposal, used to maintain their superiority among the rest, unwashed, different, others. While as a word, and policy, segregation was commonly associated with United States of America with its Jim Crow Era, or South Africa's Apartheid, segregation had been longer with us longer than that, with its form could be discovered as earliest as in Sumerian Era.
However, the legally justified form of (urban) civilization was conceived for the first time by the British, when the colonized India. First justifying the segregation for military security and safety for their trading posts, when they became more comfortable with their Imperial trappings, the excuses shifted to maintaining public health up to outright white supremacy.
While the Brits started it, the practice of segregation was being perfected around its colonies, from South Africa, while Apartheid was established by the Afrikaner-dominated National Party, the seed was sown by the Pro-English people earlier. And in America, the innovations to segregation were found, among them keeping the neighborhood white in order to keep the real estate price high. While in Germany, practice of segregation led to Jewish Holocaust.
Although now civil rights triumphed and segregation as an institution is no more, in fact the practice continue, even in the third world countries. As people become richer, while wealth is distributed inequally, the slum areas continue to sprawl across the country, or the urban areas became more ghettoized, while the elites retreated into the suburbs. In order to create a more equal society, segregation is indeed, one of the problems that needs to be tackled.
This informative, although sometimes exhausting, is disappointing because, despite its large volume, it tended to pin the sins of segregation to Anglo-Saxon societies, as if other people around the world did not practice segregation.
October 17, 2022
This is a good recount of urban segregation
The book could have benefited from including maps, or having a video version, as the descriptions can get confusing unless you know the cities the author discusses
The epilogue is probably the weakest part of the book, as ir is basically a recitation of complaints against capitalism (and this goes against the solidity of the author throughout the rest of the book) and a praise for a number of officials of NGOs and multilateral organizations
The intro section is the strongest part of the book
The book could have benefited from including maps, or having a video version, as the descriptions can get confusing unless you know the cities the author discusses
The epilogue is probably the weakest part of the book, as ir is basically a recitation of complaints against capitalism (and this goes against the solidity of the author throughout the rest of the book) and a praise for a number of officials of NGOs and multilateral organizations
The intro section is the strongest part of the book
February 19, 2024
Not necessarily a well-written book for me, although it covers a lot of substantial material and seems to be well-researched.
I think perhaps it could've been written in a more engaging manner (and in a less confusing way). The author attempts to cover quite the broad scope, and as a result, there's a bit too much information in some parts, or too much movement across time/space, or not enough clarity on one theme.
This is not to say that I did not get useful knowledge from reading this, I just do not think it is a very good book.
I think perhaps it could've been written in a more engaging manner (and in a less confusing way). The author attempts to cover quite the broad scope, and as a result, there's a bit too much information in some parts, or too much movement across time/space, or not enough clarity on one theme.
This is not to say that I did not get useful knowledge from reading this, I just do not think it is a very good book.
February 26, 2019
It's not just about racial segregation. Its about what separates and defines city culture. And that can be from financing, banking, employment, transportation, etc.. it's a polarizing title, but if it triggers you, then the title did its job. Pick it up. Read it. Learn why you reacted so strongly. If anything, it will reveal something about your own psyche. Really good book!
June 6, 2019
This book's scope over centuries and from colonial India to modern day Chicago makes its cohesive narrative, of the developing social technologies involved in urban segregation, how they were adopted between cultures, and influenced by a range of intellectual trends and material conditions in different places across history, all the more impressive
April 5, 2018
For Race, Ethnicity and Cities around the Globe class.
July 22, 2022
Not that the topic itself or the insights which the book offered were not of interest, but the writing style was not for me. Mainly I found it just to be tiresome.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews