Critical Geography & Race (CGR)

The Critical Geography and Race (CGR) framework is a conceptual tool for analyzing how race and geography intersect to create and perpetuate social inequalities. It's an interdisciplinary approach that combines the insights of Critical Geography and Critical Race Theory (CRT) to study the spatial effects of racism.

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The framework is built on the understanding that racial inequality isn't just a social phenomenon; it's physically embedded in the places where we live, work, and learn. It examines how historical policies and practices—like redlining, discriminatory zoning laws, and the placement of polluting industries—have physically shaped cities and communities, leading to unequal access to resources and opportunities.

 

How CGR Works: Key Aspects and Areas of Analysis

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The CGR framework operates on the principle that to understand systemic racism, you must analyze its spatial manifestations. It looks at how historical and contemporary power dynamics have used geography as a tool for racial marginalization.

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Key Aspects

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• Spatial Analysis: The framework uses geographical methods to analyze data and patterns, such as mapping crime rates, school funding, or health outcomes across different neighborhoods.

• Historical Context: It recognizes that the current state of a city's geography is a product of its history, and it links present-day disparities to past discriminatory policies.

• Power Differentials: CGR identifies and challenges the power structures that have historically benefited certain racial groups at the expense of others.

• Action-Oriented Research: The framework is not just for academic study; it's designed to inform policy changes and community-led initiatives to mitigate disparities.

 

Key Areas of Analysis​

 

Using guiding questions from both Critical Race Theory and Critical Geography, the CGR framework focuses on analyzing several key areas to reveal spatial inequalities:

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• Policies: Examines how federal, state, and local policies (e.g., Jim Crow laws, Civil Rights Act, housing policies) have influenced the physical development and segregation of cities.

• Health: Analyzes how environmental racism and unequal access to healthcare create disparities in health outcomes, such as higher rates of lead poisoning or chronic diseases in predominantly Black neighborhoods.

• Education: Investigates how school funding formulas, residential segregation, and zoning policies lead to unequal educational opportunities and outcomes.

• Housing and Economics: Explores how zoning, property laws, and deindustrialization have resulted in racialized labor markets, disparities in wealth, and housing segregation.

 

By applying this framework, researchers and community members can better understand how a city’s physical landscape is a living map of its racial history, helping to inform efforts to build more just and equitable futures.​