Recognizing the Achievements of Black Urbanists

Blogger and planners Pete Saunders is acknowledging black urbanists from all over the spectrum of civic involvement.

1 minute read

November 21, 2017, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Rebuild Foundation

Theaster Gates, founder and artist director of the Rebuild Foundation, talking at the 2008 Cultural Olympiad. | Andy Miah / Flickr

Pete Saunders is publishing a series of articles that focus on black urbanists. The latest article focuses on black urbanists working in local government, while previous articles focused on community activists and academics.

Back in October, Saunders wrote an introductory post to the series that lays out the need to push the discussion about black urbanism and black urbanists further than past efforts. The needs for Saunders's posts are multiple, including the lack of inclusion for the black community that worked to better cities prior to the back-to-the-city movement that launched in the late 1990s and continues to this day and the declining number of blacks living in urban environments (Saunders has written previously of the growing suburbanization of blacks in the United States.

Saunders also makes no secret of the fact that the series was inspired in response to Planetizen's list of "100 Most Influential Urbanists," published earlier this fall. That list included 17 people of color by Saunders's count, with six African-Americans on the list. We at Planetizen agree with Saunders that although number was a significant improvement over the previous list, created in 2009, the need to recognize the diverse and valuable contributions of many more black urbanists, and urbanists of all races and genders, persists.

Sunday, November 12, 2017 in The Corner Side Yard

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

7 hours ago - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.