A post for The Corner Side Yard broadens the definition of urbanism as a field of practice to include more African Americans in the discussion of who has influence in improving cities.
"There are black urbanists," writes Pete Saunders. "There are African-Americans who have invested their life's work toward the betterment of cities. They haven't always gotten the exposure and acknowledgement that others have received, but they have nonetheless contributed to an improved understanding of how cities work, especially in an African-American context."
The article goes on to propose ten African-Americans Saunders considers to be unrbanists, even if they didn't work in a field associated with a traditional view of urbanism (e.g., architect, planner, policymakers). The chronological list includes W.E.B. DuBois, William Julius Wilson, and Mary Pattillo.
Saunders also notes, "I know there are many more; some who work with lots of notoriety as they address issues like police brutality, housing, public transit, environmental justice, food deserts and the like. And there are others who toil in anonymity, working in block clubs, CDCs and other organizations, working steadfastly to make their community a better place."
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