Honoring Black History Through Storytelling, Memorials and Community Action
Black history is woven into the fabric of our cities and communities, and these efforts work to preserve its impact on future generations.
Each February, Black History Month serves as a time to reflect on the achievements, struggles and ongoing contributions of Black individuals in shaping the world around us. Established in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson as Negro History Week, the observance was later expanded to a full month in 1976, providing a national platform to honor the profound impact of Black Americans in every field, from science and politics to the arts, education and beyond. While the month is dedicated to celebration and remembrance, it’s also a call to acknowledge the systemic challenges Black communities have faced and amplify the voices that have historically been silenced.
Design and planning hold a unique place in this conversation. The built environment has long reflected the inequalities present in society, from redlining and urban renewal programs that displaced Black communities to the underrepresentation of Black professionals in the industry. At the same time, Black planners and designers have played an essential role in shaping cities, advocating for equitable development and creating spaces that uplift communities.
Honoring Black history in the built environment is about acknowledging past injustices and actively working toward a future where Black voices are represented and valued in shaping our cities and spaces. The following initiatives exemplify this commitment, each contributing to the broader effort to acknowledge Black history through design, preservation and community empowerment. From a traveling exhibition that uplifts designers to a national monument that ensures a painful chapter of history is never forgotten, these projects demonstrate how Black history lives on in the spaces we create and the stories we share.
SAY IT LOUD: Elevating Diverse Design Excellence
Architecture and design shape the spaces in which we live, work, and gather, yet the contributions of Black architects and designers have historically been overlooked. SAY IT LOUD, an exhibition created by Pascale Sablan, FAIA, NOMA, LEED AP, seeks to change that narrative. Showcasing the work and stories of women and diverse architects, contractors, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects and planners, the traveling exhibit brings much-needed visibility to professionals who have made significant contributions to the built environment.
Since its inception, SAY IT LOUD has traveled across the country, amplifying Black voices, along with the voices of women and People of Color, in the design industry. When it arrived in Nebraska in 2022, the exhibit became a platform for education and awareness, hosted in multiple locations across Omaha and Lincoln. By engaging communities in conversations about representation in the built environment, the exhibit inspired young designers while challenging institutions to examine equity within the profession.
Beyond its striking visuals and powerful narratives, SAY IT LOUD serves as a catalyst for change. It creates a space for Black designers to be seen and celebrated and pushes back against long-standing disparities in the field. It encourages a future where diversity in design is acknowledged and embraced, ensuring that the built environment reflects the richness and complexity of the people who inhabit it.
The Springfield Race Riot: A National Monument to Remember and Educate
In August 1908, a violent attack against Black residents in Springfield, Illinois, left a deep scar on the nation’s history. What began as unsubstantiated accusations against two Black men quickly escalated into a deadly riot, fueled by racial hatred and economic tensions. White mobs terrorized Black neighborhoods, setting homes and businesses ablaze, lynching two men and forcing hundreds of families to flee. This tragic event exposed the systemic racism embedded in American society and, in its aftermath, led to the founding of the NAACP.
For years, efforts to commemorate the Springfield Race Riot were largely local, with descendants and community members pushing for greater recognition of the tragedy’s significance. In 2024, President Joe Biden signed a bill designating the site as a national monument, ensuring its preservation as part of the National Park System. This recognition honors the resilience of those who endured the violence – it also serves as an important reminder of the work still needed to address racial injustice.
Design concepts for the Springfield Race Riot memorial center around an “open wound,” reflecting both the pain of the past and the ongoing healing process for the Springfield community and the nation as a whole. The memorial marks the solemn location where homes were destroyed, paying tribute to the lives lost and the families forever impacted. Intended as both a cultural and national landmark, the space invites visitors to reflect on the riot’s lasting impact and engage in meaningful dialogue about race and justice in America. Through its symbolic design, the memorial ensures that this history is not just remembered but continues to shape conversations about equity and reconciliation today.
The designation of the Springfield Race Riot National Monument is a step toward acknowledging difficult histories and fostering national conversations about race, violence and reconciliation. By preserving the site, future generations will have the opportunity to learn about this painful chapter in American history and its lasting impact. Memorials like this serve as both a tribute to those who suffered and a call to action, reminding us that history is not just something to remember but something to learn from.
Do Something GOOD for Your Neighbor: A Legacy of Giving Back
Public spaces shape the way communities interact and Do Something GOOD for Your Neighbor is an original artwork commissioned by and included in the public art collection of the City of Fort Worth, Texas. The project is designed to celebrate the resilience and identity of Fort Worth’s historic Lake Como neighborhood. Inspired by the natural beauty and cultural significance of Lake Como Park, this public art installation serves as both a tribute to community leader William H. Wilburn Sr. and an invitation for residents to gather, reflect and engage with their shared history.
At its center, a weathering steel sculpture acts as a literal and figurative frame for the community. Engraved with excerpts from The Lake Como Weekly, the neighborhood newspaper Wilburn Sr. founded, the structure preserves the voices and stories that have shaped the area. Surrounding the piece, benches carved from 100-year-old white oak provide a place for contemplation, reinforcing the plaza as a space of connection and remembrance. The names of Wilburn Sr. and Amon G. Carter Sr., who donated the land for the park, are etched into the installation, ensuring their contributions remain a visible part of the neighborhood’s legacy.
The installation was developed in response to community aspirations to highlight the unique character of Lake Como while creating a space for future generations to connect with their heritage. As expressed in the Lake Como Public Art Master Plan, the project embodies “soul, spirit, mind and heart,” preserving the neighborhood’s rich history while embracing its evolving identity. Wilburn Sr.’s own words, engraved into the steel panels, capture the project’s essence: “There should be a place where everyone can go…for after all, we are all human beings, all striving to live in peace and harmony together.”
Continuing the Conversation
Whether through an exhibition that uplifts Black designers, a national monument that memorializes a painful past or a public space that celebrates community and connection, these projects and initiatives demonstrate the power of the built environment to tell stories, preserve history and inspire change. They remind us that honoring Black history is not a passive act of remembrance but an active commitment to amplifying voices and shaping a more equitable future.
The spaces we create, restore and commemorate are living reflections of our values and priorities. Who we choose to celebrate, whose stories we choose to tell and how we design our cities all shape the narratives that define us. By ensuring that Black voices, histories and contributions are represented in the built environment, we affirm their lasting impact and challenge systems that have long sought to erase them. The past can’t be changed, but how we honor it – and the future we build because of it – is within our control.
As we reflect on Black history, we might ask ourselves, how can we design spaces that foster inclusion? How can we ensure that the histories of Black communities are not only preserved but celebrated? And how can we use the built environment as a tool for justice, healing and progress? The answers to these questions will shape the cities and communities of tomorrow. The responsibility to continue this work belongs to all of us.