On Wednesday, April 20th, the guilty verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd brought a ripple effect of response and emotion across the nation. While this verdict is a step, it is not a "static pivot," explained by NOMA's current President Jason Pugh and former NOMA President Kimberly Dowdell. As the Black Lives Matter movement continues to spark awareness and action, architecture schools, firms, and organizations across the nation responded with support to stand with the Black community and to demand racial justice within the industry. 

After hearing the trial results, it led me to reflect on the statements and plans from the architecture community shared in 2020. Since last year, what tangible results have occurred since architects, firms, and institutions addressed the need to dismantle systemic racism and white supremacy? While steps towards anti-racism are a daily affair, how deep can these statements and reform plans go before we see a change?

The National Organization of Minority Architects' (NOMA) leadership and ongoing mission have been to support architects and designers of color by banishing racism, reaching out to the community, advocacy, voter rights, engagement, and outreach. Through these pillars, the organization's message reflects a group of industry professionals striving for justice. While they are not the only organizations within the architecture community working towards a change, their consistent intentionality towards improving opportunities for architects and designers of color through activism and empowerment makes them an example to follow.

Here we are in April 2021 with a history-making verdict. As Pugh and Dowdell express in their open letter to the community, George Floyd's case further amplifies the need for change and reform within our industry and adjacent disciplines. In their letter, they share their thoughts and challenge everyone "to fight all systems of bias, oppression, and prejudice." They exclaim, "as a profession, it's time to get back to work."

Read their full statement below.

On May 31, 2020, the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) responded with a tremendously heavy heart in reaction to the murder of George Floyd. This tragedy was emblematic of a larger system of oppression and injustice in the U.S.  After the release of our B.R.A.V.E. statement, NOMA’s leadership was heartened by the colleagues, friends, and allies that reached out with support and acknowledgment of the long-standing racial divide in the nation and in our industry. 

On April 20, 2021, a jury honored the value of George Floyd’s life with a guilty verdict rendered in the trial of Derek Chauvin – a white man and police officer who senselessly murdered Floyd in Minneapolis. While more discriminate violence at the hands of police continued, the country waited with bated breath and a mix of emotions as the guilty verdict was shared. For most in the Black and Latino community, our immediate reactions of relief and celebration, quickly turned to reflective sadness and frustration once we realized we were celebrating something that should be so clear and apparent for our legal justice system. 

Yesterday’s [April 20th's] guilty verdict is NOT JUSTICE. Justice comes with the deliverance of quick and fair sentencing, without risk of delays or approved appeals. Yesterday’s guilty verdict is ACCOUNTABILITY.  Accountability that was long overdue, and required the world’s focus, a national movement, countless protests, and the courage of a select few officers to bravely cross the blue wall of silence against a white police officer who kneeled on a Black man’s neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds.

Yesterday [April 20th] has the potential to be a turning point – but it’s not a static pivot. The guilty verdict moves us in the direction of equity and the nation’s fight to end white supremacy. White supremacy’s end simply stands for the start of recognized human dignity for everyone – no matter your race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ability, or economic status. 

Last year was traumatic on many different levels.  At least the outcome of this historic trial begins to relieve the pressure on our collective necks as we gasped for the air of true freedom as equal citizens.  Even though the injustices that ranged from slavery to Emmett Till and Jim Crow to Breonna Taylor remain heavy in our memories, we can begin to point to a precedent of accountability.  This is now the beginning of the healing process.

We – our members, friends, colleagues, families, communities, and nation – have to reflect on the events of the past year, including the continued incidents of violence against people of color, and use this as fuel to move in the right direction, which is towards equal treatment for all.  It is notable that we mark this moment of truth in history during NOMA’s 50th year.  It should not have taken 50 years to have difficult conversations about race in our profession. Now that the conversations have started, we cannot stop until we get it right. 

On behalf of George Floyd, the jury got it right.  As we think about how we can build from the momentum of this historic decision, we challenge everyone to fight all systems of bias, oppression, and prejudice.  As a profession, it’s time to get back to work.

Jason Pugh, AIA, AICP, LEED AP, NOMA President 2021-2022 and
Kimberly Dowdell, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BC + C, NOMA President 2019-2020