Society. Spaces. Screens

Abstract

Mapping Blackness is a multi-platform archive that uses interactive media to explore the intersection of race, space, and memory. Using community-centered documentary practices, this project focuses on historically Black neighborhoods, uncovering counter-narratives that challenge dominant urban and rural histories. By integrating augmented reality (AR), 360-degree video, and GIS mapping, the project creates immersive experiences that highlight the resilience, cultural contributions, and ongoing struggles of these communities. This presentation will detail the project’s innovative methodology, which blends archival research, oral histories, and participatory media creation to engage marginalized voices. Through the concept of “interactive geographies,” Mapping Blackness invites users to navigate virtual reconstructions of sites shaped by systemic inequalities, enabling a phenomenological understanding of these spaces and their histories. The project also confronts the ethical and technological challenges of digital representation, particularly as it relates to issues of identity, gentrification, and memory preservation. This presentation will explore how Mapping Blackness fosters inclusive participatory development, empowering communities to reclaim their narratives through digital storytelling. The project offers critical insights into the transformative potential of XR and spatial computing for promoting cultural equity and resilience. Case studies from completed iterations will illustrate the potential of this approach to redefine how we experience and understand the socio-political dimensions of space in the digital age.