V. Mitch McEwen is an assistant professor at Princeton University School of Architecture, principal of McEwen Studio, and co-founder of A(n) Office.
It speaks volumes that the magazine that represents the professional wing of U.S. architecture cannot be bothered to commission the words of a black person in America about the state of black architects in America. This speaks volumes about architecture criticism, about respect for Black professionals and intellectuals within the field, and the overwhelming centering of White America that this profession so deftly delivers at every level—from Neo-Pomo pedagogy to the developer’s pro forma. The words of Whitney Young remain relevant, though they have already been echoed, updated, and superseded by speeches not invited to these pages. But, to repeat: “Why are they so insecure?”
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Remembering Whitney M. Young Jr.’s Landmark Speech
At the 1968 AIA Convention, Young chastised architects for failing to support civil rights. A half century later, black practitioners revisit his text as the benchmark for a continuing struggle.
