A Community Engaged Ethnography of Play in Fairview—A Historically Black and Multicultural Neighborhood in Hillsborough, North Carolina

This dissertation is a community-engaged ethnography of play in Fairview, a vibrant neighborhood in Hillsborough, North Carolina. The study had three aims: 1) to describe play among children and youth in Fairview; 2) to investigate how socio-historical factors shape their play; and 3) to explore how play contributes to community cohesion. Guided by a critical theoretical framework, the study unfolded in two phases: 1) engaging with community partners, and 2) data collection/analysis. In phase 1, I collaborated with a research steering committee of neighborhood residents to identify a community research question: “How can we foster connections among the youth?” This process led to the formation of a preteen group, the Kool Kid Squad, who became my primary partners in the second phase. Data collection included group discussions with the Kool Kid Squad, interviews with preteens and mothers, community observation, and reviews of historical documents and oral histories. I present the findings across three chapters. In Chapter 4, I centered insights from Fairview preteens; in Chapter 5, I highlighted perspectives on Fairview Park as a resource for play; and in Chapter 6, I explored how play contributes to community cohesion. The preteens’ accounts revealed diverse and evolving meanings of play. While much of their play occurred alone or with family at home, hanging out with friends—supported by caregivers and digital technologies—was valued play. Although Fairview Park was a key resource, residents’ use of the park was limited due to safety concerns, a lack of cultural relevance, and the neighborhood’s racialized history. Oral histories revealed that children’s play historically contributed to community cohesion, a legacy that continues today. Together, these findings suggest that with greater recognition of neighborhood history and intentional use of play, community resources can be leveraged to strengthen social ties. This study demonstrates the complexity of play within the neighborhood context, using a transactional perspective of occupation to explore play from both personal and communal dimensions. Methodologically, it contributes to occupational science through integrating historical and ethnographic analysis to illuminate the social processes shaping play, and by advancing culturally responsive and inclusive research with minoritized youth.