Racial vibrations, masculine performances: experiences of homelessness among young men of colour in the Greater Toronto Area

Abstract

This article explores the connections between race, masculinity and urban space in the lives of Canadian-born young men of colour (aged 17–26) who have experienced homelessness in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). It is based on ethnographic research including 40 interviews and eight ‘Where-I-Live-Tours’ of the city by the author and participants. This study explores the intersections between racial emergences and masculine performances in the lived experiences of homelessness, drawing connections between spatial representations and material experiences. It utilizes the concepts of affect and ‘racial vibrations’ to show how race emerges differently in different areas of the GTA. There exists a constant racial ‘vibe’ in the suburban areas of the GTA, whereas there is a vibrating whiteness that obscures racial events in downtown Toronto spaces. In both cases, the emergence of race contributes to continued oppression based on the intersections of racialized masculinities and homelessness.

Vibraciones raciales, performances masculinas: las experiencias de la situación de calle entre hombres jóvenes de color en el Gran Toronto

Este artículo estudia las conexiones entre raza, masculinidad y espacio urbano en las vidas de los hombres jóvenes de color (de 17 a 26 años de edad) nacidos en Canadá que han estado en situación de calle en el Gran Toronto (Greater Toronto Area, GTA). Se basa en investigación etnográfica, que incluye 40 entrevistas y ocho “Tours-de-dónde-vivo-yo” de la ciudad por el autor y los participantes. El estudio explora las intersecciones entre surgimientos raciales y performances masculinas en las experiencias vividas de la situación de calle, estableciendo conexiones entre las representaciones espaciales y las experiencias materiales. Utiliza los conceptos de afecto y “vibraciones raciales” para mostrar cómo la raza emerge diferenciadamente en distintas áreas del GTA. Existe una “vibración” racial constante en las áreas suburbanas del GTA, mientras que en los espacios del centro de Toronto, hay una vibración de blanquitud que enmascara los eventos raciales. En ambos casos, el surgimiento de la raza contribuye a una opresión continua basada en la intersección de la masculinidad racializada y la situación de calle.

种族共鸣感与男性气概展演：大多伦多地区年轻有色人种无家可归的经验

本文探讨在加拿大出生、并在大多伦多地区经历无家可归经验的有色人种青年（年龄介乎17至26岁）的生活中，种族、男性气概与城市空间之间的连结。本研究根据四十个访谈，以及由我和参与者所举办的八场 “我的住所” 城市巡礼的民族志研究。本研究探讨无家可归者生活经验中的种族浮现与男性气概展演之间的多元交织，连结空间再现与物质经验。本研究运用 “情感” 与 “种族共鸣感” 的概念，展现种族如何在大多伦多地区的不同区域中，以不同的方式浮现。大多伦多地区的郊区中，持续存在着种族 “共鸣”，而多伦多市中心空间，则共鸣着掩盖种族事件的白人性。在两个案例中，种族的浮现，导致根据种族化的男性气概与无家可归交织的持续压迫。

Keywords::

• race
• vibe
• affect
• masculinities
• youth
• homelessness

Palabras claves::

• raza
• vibración
• afecto
• masculinidades
• juventud
• situación de calle

关键词:::

• 种族
• 共鸣
• 情感
• 男性气概
• 青年
• 无家可归者

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank everyone who read this paper in its various iterations: Peter Hopkins, Sue Ruddick, Alan Walks, Caitlin O'Neill, Lynda Johnston and the anonymous but very engaged and provocative reviewers. Minelle Mahtani, Debby Leslie and Serene Tan provided important insight and encouragement and Kitty Maytan provided encouragement and presence. All the front line staff and managers at various service agencies made this research possible and effective (at East Scarborough Storefront, Our Place Peel, Evergreen Yonge Street Mission and Red Cross Homeless Drop-In). And lastly, to the young men who participated in this work with me and whose voices shape the rhythm of this paper, thank you.

Notes

^1. I use the term vibration based on the conception of ‘resonance’ by Deleuze and Guattari (1996), meaning an immanent resonance between bodies (living and non-living) that achieves the capacity to affect other things/bodies when certain conditions are met, such as in the creation of affective assemblages. I utilize the term vibration because it emerged out of conversation with participants who repeatedly used the word ‘vibe’ to describe an affective atmosphere (Anderson 2009).

^2. Post-racial beliefs are not unique to young men of colour in Toronto. Rather, they are affected by the contemporary culture of post-racialism in North America. Post-racialism continues to be studied quite broadly in the social sciences (Bush 2011; Glassman 2010; Goldberg 2008; Kaplan 2011; Parks, Hughey, and Ogletree 2011).

^3. Although here I am the one who introduces the word ‘vibe’, it emerged out of many previous interviews with other young men of colour (including those featured in the other accounts in this article). The word refers to a cultural and affective feeling or intuition of an atmosphere. In many cases, the vibe acts on people, shapes bodies and informs their relationships and actions.

^4. A ‘wife beater’ is a sleeveless undershirt.

^5. Kingston-Galloway has high levels of joblessness, crime and concomitant problems for local youth. East Scarborough Storefront is located in the area for these reasons.

^6. Tim Hortons is a coffee restaurant.

^7. No Frills is a grocery store.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jeff May

Jeff May is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Geography and Program in Planning at the University of Toronto. This article is part of his doctoral research on race, gender and youth homelessness in the GTA. He has taught undergraduate courses in Geography (on Feminist/Anti-Racist Geographies of the City) and Women and Gender Studies (on Masculinities) at the University of Toronto Mississauga.