Multisensory boundaries and the spatial agency of racialised residents in Parma

Abstract

This study investigates the racialisation of urban spaces in Parma, an Italian city, through embodied experiences of Black individuals with immigrant backgrounds. Using walking conversations, it examines how sensory cues interact with public discourses to racialise urban environments, shaping perceptions of inclusion and exclusion. Media narratives amplify discomfort among long-term residents of Italian origin by associating sensory markers linked to immigrant presence with degradation and insecurity, transforming these spaces into contested sensory landscapes. Conversely, racialised individuals navigate these spaces with experiences from exclusion to cultural affirmation, which can both reinforce and challenge racialised representations. The study underscores the agency and resistance of racialised residents, who adopt tactics such as renaming spaces and engaging in sensory practices to reclaim urban environments. By adopting a multisensory approach, it deepens understanding of how racialised boundaries are produced, experienced, and contested, offering a framework for exploring race–space dynamics.

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