Introducing The Great Near

Hey folks. This is the 1st edition of The Great Near (!!) Today’s post is about what you can expect to find in this publication.

—

W.E.B. Du Bois’s unpublished fictional manuscript, “The Princess Steel,” is a story of a Black sociologist staging experiments from a Manhattan skyscraper. Set against a backdrop of the steel industry, the protagonist introduces the megascope, an instrument that enables its beholder to see the “Great Near.”

The Great Near provides neither a telescope’s “Far Great,” nor a microscope’s “Near Small,” but something in between. It is a framing device for systems that are large in scale, too great for us to see, yet close and personal in their influence.

Without a megascope, there are other ways to reveal the systems that shape society and the truths that so often dismantle American myths, from the inevitability of inequality to shareholder primacy. Thanks to the tireless activism of people of color in 2020, once-fringe perspectives have gained traction. More people are waking up to the invisible forces of colonialism, racialized capitalism, and white supremacy that shape our modern economy and dictate who gets to participate. Dismantling white supremacy even made a brief appearance in President Biden's inauguration speech, a clear pivot from the Obama-era post-racial society.

Introducing The Great Near

This newsletter will do the real-life work of the megascope, revealing not only systemic inequalities but uncovering interesting ideas that offer alternatives to the mainstream economy. I’ll focus on ways that institutions can shift capital across the spectrum into investments that are racially equitable, local, and community-driven. 

The Great Near draws its name from Du Bois's work to render the invisible visible; to spark new ideas through the act of visualization itself. His collection of hand-drawn, full-color infographics detailing the progress of African Americans since emancipation, largely unrecognized at the time, has grasped the attention of activists, sociologists, policymakers, storytellers, and designers through the ages. (In future posts, we'll explore how this work takes on new life and relevance today.)

“Assessed Values of Household and Kitchen Furniture Owned by Georgia Negroes”, 1900, via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

True to my Common Future roots, this newsletter is an experiment — an opportunity to take deeper dives and open a two-way dialogue with our community. Our Medium page will continue to offer updates, reflections, and spotlights from our network, while The Great Near will publish explorations on shifting capital and insights into the work we are piloting. If you're interested in ‘how-to’ guides from our network, insights from what we’re reading, and digests of our favorite content that helps cut through the noise, stick around.

Perhaps this becomes a new home to build community and connect with the brilliant leaders we are humbled to work with every day. For now, this newsletter will be free and open to all, published bi-weekly(ish) and dropped in your inbox. I hope to hear from you: what resonates, what's missing, etc. You can reach me anytime at caitlin@commonfuture.co.