The black utopia of an African-American Bauhaus

摘要

Vibranium doesn't exist. And the black utopia of Wakanda, where our ancestors made vast technological advancements, superior transportation and infrastructure, and stunning architecture, is a figment of Disney's Marvel Universe imagination. After the American Civil War, African-Americans (AA) established thriving communities like Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the 1920s and Seneca Village in New York City in the 1820s. Unfortunately, the attempt to masterplan a black utopia was destroyed because of fear and hate. Throughout American history, African-Americans did not have the freedom to choose where to live. Exclusionary zoning and restrictive covenants, for example, excluded blacks from homeownership. What if, after the Civil War, African-Americans continued to thrive in these communities and hired black architects andplanners. What if AA Architects make up 30 per cent of licensed architects today instead of the current 2 per cent. If there were no racially motivated barriers, how would the built environment look if there were more AA architects and planners?