Kathryn Prigmore, FAIA, a senior associate Shalom Baranes Associates, is adviser to the president of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA).
Whitney M. Young, Jr. could have given this address to any profession in 1968. Or in 1978; or, even today some 50 years later. He was speaking to not just men or architects, or Americans, but to all of us as supposedly compassionate human beings. He was asking each of us—no matter what our race, or gender, or condition—why we refuse or are reluctant to funnel some of our energy and passion to improving the lives of those less fortunate than we are. He was asking us why, once we reach a certain stature, do we isolate ourselves from our more humble pasts?
Thankfully, architects are making progress toward overcoming “our thunderous silence” and our “complete irrelevance.” Mobilization of the profession to address Mr. Young’s challenge took many forms. Some, like NOMA, began immediately and have evolved into sustained institutions with equity in the profession as a primary mission. Others were later additions to the cause, such as the powerful ArchVoices which purposefully dissolved after achieving its primary goals and stimulating the introduction of many initiatives through which architects and others can focus on specific aspects of disparity within the built environment.
Architects and students regularly reach beyond the boundaries of our profession through a broad range of programs such as Canstruction and the Rural Studio. Pipeline programs such as Architecture in the Schools expose diverse groups of young people to the possibility of becoming an architect. Initiatives aimed at making us more aware of the shortcomings within our profession, such as Equity by Design, and aimed at supporting diverse populations within the profession, such as Riding the Vortex, currently thrive.
There is a higher percentage of firms which undertake socially consciousness endeavors either as part of their primary mission or as tertiary activities now than there were in 1968. Just like the rest of America, and most of the world, our progress has been steadily moving in a positive trajectory. Ironically, within our profession the greatest strides have been made relative to gender equity, an area not even mentioned in Young’s speech.
Young addressed many ills of society and of inequities in the built environment that planners, engineers, developers, bureaucrats, politicians, or others are more able to affect than practicing architects. In response to this aspect of his challenge, our academic communities acknowledge they are training not just professionals but individuals with backgrounds in architecture who will fill roles within the entire spectrum of professionals involved with conceptualizing, designing, and constructing the built environment. As more individuals trained in architecture become policymakers and financiers, the better our physical environments will become, not just for those who can afford to commission an architect but for everyone.
Today, as in 1968, there is no simple answer to the questions Young posed. As long as change happens within the existing socio-political environment we can only achieve modest gains. For true parity to be achieved, we need to dissolve the laws and institutionalized policies which provide the foundation for inequity in our profession, in America, and throughout the world.
