Something’s Happening: A new emphasis on ‘by us for us’
W.E.B. DuBois coined and popularized the phrase ‘By us, for us.’
My project comes in the shape of 2-hour home tours about objects of resistance. But, the actual research thesis is how I situate myself as a Black Asian american design researcher doing work for other Black, Brown, Indigenous, People of Color. The thesis is to develop specific ways of working that are by us, for us. The project is just one case study though which to explore the thesis.
Previously in my writing (for a Unit 2 writing assignment and to apply to the Ph.D. program) was heavily about proving that the idea for the research is a good one, and that it exists — I gave examples of people who owned these objects, and that people do write personal stories to make theoretical statements. Since the beginning my excitement—and the articles and book chapters I’ve been downloading and reading are about the project: people’s belongings and politicized ways of looking at private spaces and things.
A pivot is happening.
More specifically…
The thesis and the case project from before to now feels clearer and most simple.
Thesis
☁️ Before the new pivot: How might I develop a critical design research attitude by prioritizing people’s wisdom about themselves
🌱 Now: ‘By us, for us’ philosophy in design research
Case Project
☁️ Before the new pivot: Methods and procedures for analyzing objects + My approach for in-home interviews
🌱 Now: 2-hour home tours, recruitment through to dissemination
What is happening?
The ‘something’ that is happening is I’m—right as we speak—getting into a groove for the thesis.
More concretely, I’m finding articles and essays about this by us for us thing I’m working on.
Things to read
I’m in the middle of this pivot, so I haven’t read any of these. They’re super exciting (!!!) and I can’t wait to get into this tomorrow first thing. Once I download the articles, I’ll add it to the Free Library.
All quoting “by us, for us” and citing DuBois:
- Zora Neale Hurston’s Construction of Authenticity Through Ethnographic Innovation — Jennifer Staple, Yale University
I’m thinking to draw parallels between Black American theatre’s by us for us philosophical approach (i.e. performance) and the design and social research approaches for working with people. - Making History—Harry J. Elam Jr., Stanford University
“My argument is for a critical historicism, a process that recognizes the need to historicize and situate dramatic criticism as well as the need to theorize history or, as Walter Benjamin suggests, to ‘rub history against the grain.’” - Space Unveiled: Invisible culture in the design studio. Section 5. The Education of African American Architects: Rethinking Du Bois’s Principles, “about us, by us, for us” — Akel I. Kahera
- Including excluded perspectives in participatory action research—CaitlinCahill. I’m curious to read this and before reading, I’m approaching this from a critical point of view. I’m skeptical of using knowledge generated from by us, for us initiatives to be “inclusive” into white dominant, white supremacist ways of knowing and showing up.
People I’m hoping to hear from
Because I’m a part-time and remote (off-campus) researcher, I choose to and like to reach out to other researchers and practitioners who might have time and interest in guiding my readings and thinking. As part of this ‘something happening,’ I cold emailed these folks after information about their own research and history came up in a search engine inquiry of ‘by us for us’ and ‘design research.’
- Kajal Meghani—Her Dissertation was entitled: “Indian ‘Handymen’: Thomason College and technical education in colonial India 1847–1947”
- Dr. Nicole M. West— “Programs ‘by us, for us’ support black women.” The story of African American Women’s Summit (AAWS) founded in 2004, rooted in the idea “We need to establish supportive bonds among ourselves, because as you will hear, it is lonely at top, especially in predominantly white institutions”. (quote from Dr. Mary McKinney Edmonds)
The forces making something happen
There are a few forces that have helped me to get a new grip on the thesis.
- Not passing a ‘unit 2’ assignment. Getting a push to rework a methodology paper from one of the supervisors in our program helped me to clarify exactly what my thesis is, and not putz around it.
- Getting accepted to Nordic Design Conference 2019! I got some notes on the paper I submitted to participate in the pre-conference feedback day. I received two reviewers’ comments, one of which gave me great marks saying my work is necessary for design research, and the other muddled what my thesis is and what the project is. That points to how much I need to make clear that distinction so that any following conversations about my work is focused on what I want it to be focused on.
- Confirmation. At the one-year-in mark, Ph.D. candidates go through ‘confirmation’ which is a presentation to two panelists, supervisors, and peers, submitting writing, and being evaluated. I’m preparing for a strong paper and presentation to prove I have a solid project. I’m hoping to confirm May 2019.
I’m grateful for these pushes. After getting these pushes, for about 4 minutes I’m thinking defensive thoughts in my head, but I get over it and use the push to tighten up my work. Everyone’s in it to support me and help me get to where I need to go, after all. ❤
