The Cosmopolitan Canopy [1] by Elijah Anderson
Sociologist Elijah Anderson’s book introduced the concept of “cosmopolitan canopies,” which he describes as public spaces where people of diverse ethnicities and economic background gather together and practice civility. Through an ethnographic study, Anderson observed and identified places in Philadelphia which he described as “canopies” which encouraged light social interaction, civility, and inclusion. He theorized that with constant exposure to people who are different from themselves, “cosmopolitan” people are more open to interaction and are also comfortable even when faced with diversity.
One of the “cosmopolitan canopies” which he described in great detail was the Reading Terminal Market, which is a historic food and market hall in the center of Philadelphia. He described the multitudes of racial ethnicities which can be found at this market, among both the customers and the vendor owners and workers. He highlighted the focus of the market on food and theorized that it may be the reason why the place is perceived as comfortable and welcoming – because it is like a festival which celebrates different ethnicities and encourages a diverse group of people to try out different kinds of food.
In giving examples of civility, he focused on how the market is one of those places where “blacks” (African Americans) could go and not be hassled, unlike in most other places in the city. In the book, he gave several examples of both light conversations and more socially engaging ones happening across racial lines, between customers and vendors, and amongst the workers themselves at the Reading Terminal market.
As an ethnographer, Anderson also picked up on the nuances of the physical design which helped increase social interaction in the Reading Terminal Market. These included things like: the lunch counter stools which presumed that conversations could be started with the stranger seated beside you; the way the food and produce were displayed such that they were a multi-sensory delight and a conversation starter; and the way the multiple doors of the market can be accessed from various streets and were the first places where you encountered people. He observed that the physical lay-out of the place invited “physical closeness” – the narrow aisles, the cafeteria style dining tables, the proximity of the vendors who are present to answer your questions about their wares. He analyzed different levels of interaction, starting from “familiarity” to “increased comfort” and ultimately “direct engagement.”
Elijah Anderson, The Cosmopolitan Canopy: Race and Civility in Everyday Life (New York, New York W.W. Norton & Co., c2011. 1st ed., 2011).