Dec '14 - Dec '14
It was a Sunday evening in March of 2011 when I received the strangest email. I was sitting at my computer working when in my inbox the message “[SECURITY] Unidentified Suspect In the Undergraduate Studios” popped up from our “arch-all” email group. The message (which I saved) was sent from another architecture student whose name I removed for the sake of this article (I also made pseudonyms of the student names that come up in the email as to keep them anonymous).
The email said:
Hi guys,
I just wanted to send out an email warning people to be on the lookout for a person roaming the undergraduate studios today in studio 7. A few other undergrads and I saw him sweep up and down the studios while talking on his phone. He was not recognized as an undergraduate, nor a first year graduate.
DESCRIPTION:
Young, black male (and no it wasn't Rex or Winston, har har)
Approimately 5' 6" in height.
Seemed to be of stocky build
Young, possibly of high school age.
Was seen "talking" on a cell phone, and had a notebook with scribbles and presumably "fake" architectural sketches.
Left before I could approach him. Did one last sweep of the undergrad section before leaving.
Keep an eye out for him! Thanks,
When I received that email my first thought was that this was some type of bad joke. As a first year graduate student in the architecture program I learned that a lot of the undergrads had an awkward sense of humor and often lose their minds under the pressure and demand of the program’s curriculum. But when this email was responded to by “Winston” writing back to everyone saying- “You are so silly” I couldn’t help but feel both bad and a little angry at the same time. I felt bad because although I didn't know Winston (but would later get to know Rex) I wondered if that email response was showing his participation in this ill shaped humor. Then again, perhaps he had sent it to help ease tensions? Later I found out it was a little bit of both. Secondly, I was angry because the student sending the initial email had made a judgment call that helped spread the “suspicious Black man” stereotype. That student with the “presumably fake architecture sketches” could have been me walking through the architecture studio! I am Black, and although I can assure you my sketches are on Beast Mode, I personally did not know everyone in the undergraduate program. What if one day they approach me with suspicion? Should I make it my priority to go introduce myself to everyone to avoid being identified as a future suspect? This was an entirely new type of imposter syndrome.
The recent cases involving Mike Brown in Ferguson and Garner in New York all continue to illuminate how many people view Blacks (and especially Black men) in America. They are a potential threat, up to no good, and something to “keep an eye on.” While our architecture department later issued a statement urging all students not to use the email system to make these types of unsupported claims of threat, it doesn't deal with the real problem. Architecture like so many other STEM professional programs are so underrepresented at Ivy Institutions that we can be counted and accounted for. Unless you are studying at one of the seven HBCU accredited architecture programs, Black students find themselves in a small minority. You are either Rex or Winston. How we change these statistics is a challenge we must all face. The architecture studio should be an inviting atmosphere for people of all walks of life. It is a place of collaboration where people share experiences to learn. And perhaps this can be one place where an unknown Black man can be seen without suspicion.
The recent cases involving Mike Brown in Ferguson and Garner in New York all continue to illuminate how many people view Blacks (and especially Black men) in America. Architecture schools cannot avoid this discussion as many schools still have staggering low numbers of Black and other underrepresented minority students in their programs. I want to help us talk about these issues as we continue to try making our learning environments (the design studio) welcoming for people of all walks of life.
5 Comments
I've touted the idea, ever since experiencing an undergraduate design education, that those in the community are above acting on impulse, and that the desire to understand the world around them created by default strong and patient personalities. I'm very sad to read about such a careless reaction to an ill-placed and impatient fear.
I recall many instances in undergrad where outsiders would constantly visit the studios and steal bikes and purses (this all before everyone had laptops and cell-phones... way to age me here). I've also briefly studied in a school with barbed wire and armed guards, so perhaps in some cases, strangers in studio is taken seriously.
thats fucked up. people are stupid.
Let me assure you, they think YOU ARE the suspect. For being as liberal as we are, it is still a WHITE MAN'S PROFESSION.
Derek, your short anecdote is so confounding, I can't even begin...sameolddoctor hit right on the head, whereas Non Sequitur, I feel missed it entirely. I think in many ways, it's apparent to me, that white people have a long way to go in this world, and that for many white people, they seem to be implicitly, by way of this email asking; "who is this black man, and why is HE walking our floor?" In a closeted, passive-aggressive fashion, demanding that you put their fears at bay, and introduce yourself to them, so they can know - in my best ivy voiced parody, of snobbish, white upper-class twit voice - "pardon me black man, but do you know your place?" It really is sad, and infuriating that in this day and age, where we are constantly being told by the media, that this millennial generation doesn't feel race is an issue anymore, that it's apparent that many millennials have been self-segregated to such a degree as to not recognize their own shortcomings when it comes to their privilege.
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