New Books in Critical Theory Rasheedah Phillips, "Dismantling the Master's Clock: On Race, Space, and Time" (AK Press, 2025)
May 18, 2025
Rasheedah Phillips, a queer housing advocate and interdisciplinary artist, dives deep into the intricacies of race, space, and time. She critiques the one-directional perception of time shaped by historical oppression, revealing how Black communities subvert these notions through rituals and tenant organizing. Phillips discusses concepts like 'Color People's Time' and its cultural significance, while exploring innovative tools like quantum time capsules. Listeners are invited to imagine a future where the past and present intertwine to foster Black liberation and community healing.
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Colonial Roots of Western Time
- Western linear time is closely tied to colonialism and racial oppression, shaping societal structures and experiences.
- Standardized times, like time zones, serve economic efficiency but flatten local temporal experiences and histories.
The Day of Two Noons
- On November 18, 1883, the "day of two noons" occurred when time zones were established across the US.
- Some locations experienced two 12:00 noons as they adjusted their clocks backward to align with new zones.
Dual Meaning of CPT
- "Color People's Time" (CPT) is a stereotype rooted in systemic oppression tied to Western linear time perceptions.
- In physics, CPT refers to charge, parity, and time symmetry, highlighting time's non-linear nature and challenging social time biases.