Ethnic Enclaves in a Time of Plague: A Comparative Analysis of New York City and Chicago

Abstract

This chapter explores the perception that the ‘home’ extends beyond a house or apartment to include schools, shops, and places of worship. It focuses on ethnic enclaves in New York and Chicago and uses the broad concept of ‘home’ to examine how ethnic and religious enclaves have been subject to increased police enforcement of social distancing violations within these spaces. It also argues that the extent of the ‘home’ has been aided by smartphone apps and social media, which have allowed users to report violations within spaces that were once deemed private. The chapter examines why social distancing mandates are enforced disproportionately on racial minorities. It talks about the idea of the ‘private’ that structures the urban design of New York City and Chicago into discrete neighborhoods.