AbdouMaliq Simone's essay explores the concept of "people as infrastructure" in Johannesburg, highlighting how the city's inner-city residents, despite being marginalized, form a complex social infrastructure that facilitates economic and cultural interactions. Unlike traditional infrastructure, which is physical, this social infrastructure is built on the flexible, mobile, and provisional intersections of residents who engage in various activities without clear boundaries. These intersections create a platform for life in the city, enabling residents to navigate and adapt to the unpredictable nature of urban life. The essay contrasts the conventional view of urbanization as a thickening of fields with the reality in Johannesburg, where the truncated process of economic modernization has not fully consolidated urban structures. Instead, the city's inner-city residents rely on a combination of heterogeneous activities and flexible configurations to stabilize social interactions. This includes informal economies, such as drug trade, street hawkering, and informal credit systems, which are essential for survival and economic activity. The inner city is characterized by a complex geography where residents navigate a finely tuned series of movements and assumptions. There are places where they know they must not go or be seen, but this knowledge often depends on variable notions of safety. The city's inner-city neighborhoods are marked by a mix of ethnic and national groups, leading to both cooperation and conflict. Despite this, residents often form tentative collaborations based on trust, even in a climate of insecurity and trickery. The essay also discusses the role of urban policies and institutions in shaping the inner city. The lack of a systematic framework for investment and the prevalence of xenophobia have led to the intensification of xenophobic attitudes, forcing foreign Africans deeper underground. Despite this, the inner city remains a site of innovation and economic transactions, with residents forming networks and partnerships that transcend ethnic and national boundaries. The inner city's complex social infrastructure is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of its residents. It is a space where people navigate the uncertainties of urban life, forming relationships and collaborations that are essential for survival and economic activity. The essay concludes that the inner city is a hybrid space, reflecting both American and African urban characteristics, and is a crucial site for understanding the dynamics of urban life in Africa.AbdouMaliq Simone's essay explores the concept of "people as infrastructure" in Johannesburg, highlighting how the city's inner-city residents, despite being marginalized, form a complex social infrastructure that facilitates economic and cultural interactions. Unlike traditional infrastructure, which is physical, this social infrastructure is built on the flexible, mobile, and provisional intersections of residents who engage in various activities without clear boundaries. These intersections create a platform for life in the city, enabling residents to navigate and adapt to the unpredictable nature of urban life. The essay contrasts the conventional view of urbanization as a thickening of fields with the reality in Johannesburg, where the truncated process of economic modernization has not fully consolidated urban structures. Instead, the city's inner-city residents rely on a combination of heterogeneous activities and flexible configurations to stabilize social interactions. This includes informal economies, such as drug trade, street hawkering, and informal credit systems, which are essential for survival and economic activity. The inner city is characterized by a complex geography where residents navigate a finely tuned series of movements and assumptions. There are places where they know they must not go or be seen, but this knowledge often depends on variable notions of safety. The city's inner-city neighborhoods are marked by a mix of ethnic and national groups, leading to both cooperation and conflict. Despite this, residents often form tentative collaborations based on trust, even in a climate of insecurity and trickery. The essay also discusses the role of urban policies and institutions in shaping the inner city. The lack of a systematic framework for investment and the prevalence of xenophobia have led to the intensification of xenophobic attitudes, forcing foreign Africans deeper underground. Despite this, the inner city remains a site of innovation and economic transactions, with residents forming networks and partnerships that transcend ethnic and national boundaries. The inner city's complex social infrastructure is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of its residents. It is a space where people navigate the uncertainties of urban life, forming relationships and collaborations that are essential for survival and economic activity. The essay concludes that the inner city is a hybrid space, reflecting both American and African urban characteristics, and is a crucial site for understanding the dynamics of urban life in Africa.