Something I’ve always wanted to explore a little more is the
use of African-American run barber shops as public spaces or a place to gather.
While doing some research, I learned about the third space theory. From what I
understand, according to this theory, the first space is the home, the second space
is the workplace, and the third space is a community gathering spot. The third space
can be a local bar, diner, park, church, etc. A barber shop is just one example
of what a third space can be. Relationships are formed within the community
because of these important spaces.
Craig Marberry wrote a book titled “Cuttin’ Up: Wit and
Wisdom from Black Barber Shops. It is a compilation of personal accounts from
barbers and customers in black barber shops during the last hundred years or
so. Albert Ghee Jr. recalls how his uncles would not allow kids in their family
barber shop. He says that boys were not allowed into the barbershop until they
were thirteen because, “the barber shop was where grown men did business and
exchanged information,” (39). On any given day, the barber shop would be filled
with men discussing everything from news about the church, to tips for growing
the best crops, and sometimes black and white politicians would even come in
for a haircut and to campaign.
One interesting point discussed in “Cuttin’ Up” is the
social standing of barbers. Kenneth Norton’s family barber shop wasn’t
integrated until 1964. Until 1964, the black barbers only cut white men’s hair
within the walls of the barber shop. Although Kenneth Norton’s father was a
black man providing a service to whites, he recalls how, “out there, my father
was a black man in a white man’s town. But he didn’t put up with no mess in his
barber shop,” (45). He even discusses a time when he kicked a white man out of
his shop and no one questioned him. Within the walls of the barber shop, there
seemed to be an unspoken hierarchy that was very different from every day life.
Third spaces played a major role in the Civil Rights
Movement. Third spaces allowed for an inconspicuous meeting place where
important information could be shared and new ideas could be formed. Often
times, some integration could occur in these places without causing much
attention. Third spaces were also important because many typical meeting places
were either segregated or would not allow for the gathering of blacks in fear
of some form of rebellion to the social norm of segregation and the secondary
citizenship of blacks.
What are some other examples of third spaces? Have third
spaces influenced your community in any way? In what other ways did third
spaces impact the Civil Rights Movement?
I think another very influential example of a third space is any kind of dance club or bar. This first thing that comes to mind when I think of these examples is Beale street, where the african american culture thrived greatly and music, dance, and drinks were the source of a good time and community. This also exemplified how blacks has the ability to create great music and a fruitful, attractive, culture which was an idea that was non-existent amongst white supremacists in Memphis. Third spaces were essential in developing unity and culture and the results of this had a progressive effect on the push for equality.
ReplyDeleteBack home in the Twin Cities, I have noticed a few different third spaces particularly for Hmong immigrants. The Hmong culture is very family centered. That being said, it is not the nuclear family, but the entire family - grandparents, great-grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles - almost everyone you could possibly be related to. Because of this, the Hmong tend to congregate in spacious areas where they can socialize and spend time together. In the summer, it’s local parks or nightly walks around the lake (remember, the ages range from newborns to 90+ grandmothers and grandfathers). And, in the winter it is enclosed shopping malls (which admittedly is more for teenagers to socialize with each other). I also live near a Hmong funeral home which (when there is a death) is always packed – which may admittedly be more of a religious tendency than third space, but the rites seem to last at least two or three days at a time. These third spaces give the Hmong community space to keep some cultural traditions alive while being submerged in a very different culture.
ReplyDeleteThis idea of "Third Space Theory" is very interesting. For the first two years of my time here at Rhodes I actually got my haircut at a black barber shop that was run by one of my classmates uncle. The atmosphere in this barber shop was very distinct and similar to that of my barber shop in my hometown but there was defiantly a strong sense of community and pride inside that shop that I had not previously experienced. Unlike your example of the shop being for men only, this business was packed with men and women of every age on a daily basis. When I would walk in, after several months of regularly going there, there was an overwhelming feeling of warmth that was so radically different than the tone outside of those doors.
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ReplyDeletebarber shops