| Unlike the changing face of America, demographics of the architecture profession have changed little in the U.S. since 1925. Today, eighty percent of practicing architects in design careers are White American males. While futurists predict that by the year 2020 the majority culture will be Hispanic and African Americans, a majority of the practicing architects will not be from these underrepresented populations or white females. In 2000, African Americans composed thirteen percent of the population in the U.S., but fewer than two percent of the 110,000 architects as identified by the American Institute of Architects. Previous research on this phenomenon has concentrated on a survey of licensed African American architects, admission, support and retention of African American students, and the question of why African Americans are not pursuing architecture as a career; but little research has been done to develop strategies for attracting African Americans to the profession of architecture. A qualitative exploration using phenomenology and heuristic methodologies was used for illuminating the under-representation of African Americans with emphasis on developing strategies for attracting African Americans to the architecture profession. Common core experiences that occurred during childhood and high school years of twenty successful African American architects, professors and administrators were identified. 123 schools of architecture were also surveyed throughout the nation with questionnaires pertaining to recruitment, admission and student support policies. The resulting data indicate that strategies can be developed for attracting African Americans. Strategies are presented in the areas of awareness, visibility, role models, and empowerment. This research can influence the profession of architecture by making the profession more inclusive of African Americans and perhaps, other under-represented populations. College and university counselors can use this data and outline strategies for attracting African American students to their institutions. Implementing these strategies so history books can begin to document architects from underrepresented cultures including white females conceivably can make an historical impact on the profession of architecture. |
