Journal of History and Culture Journal of History and Culture

j o u r n a l o f h i s t o r y a n d c u l t u r e
approach for educators interested in the training of Black architects. Van Jones’ article suggests that there is a need
to question and constantly reconsider the future of self-reliance for Blacks which suggests providing new innovative
approaches in architecture and Design-build programs that will be more inclusive of minorities. This article makes a
case for the importance of affirming that Black architects may have a greater chance to achieve educational equality
by revisiting the educational debate between Washington and Du Bois and furthering their views by renewing current
initiatives that may affect the education of Black architects, planners, and constructors in 21 st century America and
beyond.
Concluding Comments
Even though concepts of Washington’s master builder training was aimed at men is not used today in
professional architecture programs, Black women are still faced with major educational challenges which may have
contributed to the growing number of less satisfied minorities in the profession. The demise of Washington’s master
builder training resulted in Black women being accepted into Washington’s architecture programs and ultimately
White Institutions in the United States. At this point, Blacks were no longer segregated to only industrial or liberal
arts educations. For this article, I was particularly interested in the Washington’s apprenticeship approach, which
is still practiced in modern architecture education and may have an effected on the underrepresentation of Black
women in the field of architecture. Based on the literature, an “edumaction” has and is still taking place amongst most
Black students in public elementary and high schools and in many ways have resulted in the educational practices in
architecture, community planning and construction programs in the United States. This article reveals that because
of the low representation of Blacks in the architecture profession, Black students in most architecture programs still
have not had a fair chance at an equitable and gainful education; instead, that have remained in schools that don’t
necessarily work for them.
A review of the relevant literature revealed that the training of Black architects in professional programs
should be questioned and constantly reconsidered so that the profession will be more inclusive of minorities,
particularly Black women students. The present article strengthens scholarly views on architecture education by
revealing the debate between Washington and Du Bois and how their views and others may affect the education of
Blacks in 21 st century America and beyond, especially the training of future architects in architecture and Design-
build programs.
23