Making and Remaking Whitespaces: Comparing Mexico City and Boston

Gentrification is the process of creating Whiteness and Whitespaces; how that is achieved varies by locality. While gentrification literature has explored how new development, consumerism, and cultural products transform communities, less emphasis has been given to the role of Whiteness and White supremacy in the overall process. Part of the transformation caused by the process of gentrification includes a change in the demographics of the community. In most places, this is essentially a transition from a displaceable group to emplace a White middle- and upper-class group or ethos. This research compares Boston and Mexico City for the visible signals of the emplacement of Whiteness. While both localities are distinctly different, this research argues that similar processes are taking place in both localities. In both locations, various qualitative methodologies (auto-ethnography, critical visual and digital analysis) were used to explore the emplacement and making of Whiteness. This presentation will focus on visual elements of emplacing Whiteness.