Understanding the works of Black American architects is essential for various reasons. For starters, it addresses a historical imbalance by highlighting Black architects’ and builders’ sometimes forgotten achievements. Their works have had a tremendous impact on the architectural environment of the United States. Appreciating this legacy is a step toward a more inclusive and honest portrayal of the country’s history. Not only that, but these works of art are physical representations of cultural history and perseverance. They represent Black Americans’ tenacity, resourcefulness, and innovation from the era of the Civil Rights Movement and beyond to the present day.
Harlem – Vertner Tandy’s Legacy
Harlem is the perfect place to start this architectural excursion. The neighborhood is the hometown of Vertner Tandy, a trailblazing Black architect. Vertner Tandy was the first registered African American architect in New York State. In 1906, he was one of seven founders of Cornell University’s Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Together, Tandy and George Washington Foster—who was among the first African-American architects to receive a license from New Jersey—established Tandy & Foster, a firm with headquarters on Broadway in New York City.