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Rasheedah Phillips, "Dismantling the Master's Clock: On Race, Space, and Time" (AK Press, 2025)

May 16, 2025
Rasheedah Phillips is a queer housing advocate and interdisciplinary artist known for her work in Black futurism. She challenges conventional perceptions of time, arguing it is shaped more by societal norms than natural laws. Phillips examines the historical roots of racial oppression, from colonialism to Daylight Savings, and discusses how Black communities reclaim time through cultural practices. She introduces concepts like 'plant time' and 'quantum time capsules' to envision a future where past and present coexist, reshaping the narrative of liberation.
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INSIGHT

The Master's Clock Symbolism

  • The "master's clock" symbolizes the oppressive control over Black people's time during slavery and beyond.
  • Redefining time requires dismantling these inherited temporal controls embedded in society's structure.
ANECDOTE

November 18th: The Day of Two Noons

  • On November 18th, 1883, many places experienced "two noons" due to adjusting clocks to new time zones.
  • This change was driven by the need to synchronize train schedules across regions for safety.
INSIGHT

Rethinking 'Color People's Time'

  • "Color People's Time" stereotypes stem from historical oppression and western linear time constructs.
  • Violations of punctuality are structural issues, not personal failings, reflecting systemic racism.
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