J.B. Jackson and American Sprawl
Just about every American is familiar with sprawl. Even if you don’t know the term, you are certainly familiar with the masses of identical cookie-cutter houses, green lawns, sprinkles of underdeveloped trees, and the necessity of a vehicle to get quite literally, anywhere else. At this point in time, even seeing a normal old-school neighborhood is like a breath of fresh air. J.B. Jackson knew this, and highlighted some of these more traditional towns as well as being critical of the sprawl that is suffocating America.
J.B. Jackson spent a lot of time traveling to parts of the United States that most would consider plain or uninspiring (especially in contrast to old European cities.) However, Jackson seemed to find deep meaning in the places that were holding out from accepting sprawl, and give a glimpse to what once was. Since Jackson had spent so much time traveling, he had valid critiques on the urban sprawl that has taken over the U.S., but he also held deeper appreciation for the cultural connections that we have to our small towns.
Sprawl is an identifiable part of the American landscape. Though its clear negative consequences, many Americans don’t seem to have a problem with it. Americans have become comfortable with what they know, and since owning a home and having a piece of your own property is so highly valued in our culture, this has kept the concept of sprawl alive and well.
I believe a large part of this goes all the way back to the roots of our country. The concept of Manifest Destiny (a 19th century belief that Americans were destined to expand westward) has infiltrated into the modern American way of thought. This idea of independence and self-prosperity has created in us a drive to move outwards and conquer what is unclaimed, leading to the fragmentation of our communities and causing isolation from the social amenities that can be life giving.
Though I believe nothing is wrong with wanting to own a home and have your own property, I think we need to rethink the way that our communities are framed. In order to live fulfilling lives, we need better connection and community with the greater things around us. Sprawl may give the impression of a lively community, but in reality, it creates a large divide from the greater community. Many people in the U.S. don’t know their neighbors and can’t walk to a community gathering place. Sprawl has stifled our natural connectivity for a cheap (and not effective) version.
J.B. Jackson was ahead of him time in his critiques of sprawl. In order for us to create healthier and more life-giving communities, we need to carefully consider his points of view. Appreciating the small town community life, while understanding that sprawl is not the answer to the needs we all have as humans.
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