‘Black Built’ celebrates the works of African American architects from around the country – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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Author Paul Wellington has a master's degree in architecture, but is not practicing. He wrote a book about the low number of black architects.(Photo: Rick Wood / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

When Paul Wellington wrote his book,he did it to showcase the role African American architects have played in the past and encourage young people to pick up that mantle for the future.

He and architect Nicholas Robinsonemphasized that message at adiscussion at the Milwaukee Public Library's Tippecanoe Branch Wednesday night.

Wellington read several entries from his new book,"Black Built: History and Architecture in the Black Community," which featuresAfrican American architects' from the 1800s to the presentincluding:

It also featured the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church of Birmingham, Alabama, which was built by Wallace Rayfield in 1911. It was also the site of the church bombing thatkilled four African American girls at the height of the Civil Rights movement.

Wellington said the book is meant to show students of color that they could have a future in architecture.

"I want to encourage other African American youth to take this career path and see what they can accomplish," he said.

Nicholas Robinson(Photo: Talis Shelbourne / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Robinson took that career path.

At31,he is the co-founder of DREAM Builders and one of very fewlicensed African American architects in Wisconsin.

As a youngster, he said he was partially drawn to architecture because he loved the idea of getting paid to draw, a passion of his since third grade.

He said he was also drawn to the profession because of how it impactspeople's physical and by extension, mental environments.

So when he had the chance to learn the formal skill in college, he took it.

"Architecture was more about solving problems and allowing the environment to show you what you are supposed to do," he said.

In a city like Milwaukee, architecture can be a challenge because of resource shortages and banks' reluctance to invest in the central city. However, he also noted that working in the central city helps him connect toother organizations that areinvested in the central city.

Robinson and Wellington bothspent six years in school, earning their master's degrees.

During his undergraduate career, Wellington said he didn't study any African American architects and only learned about them duringpersonal research; during his graduate program, he began thinking aboutwriting a book that would highlightAfrican American architectural contributions around the country.

Black Built: History and Architecture in the Black Community.by Paul A Wellington(Photo: handout)

After 16 months of writing and researching at night and taking one-third of the photos himself thatthought became a reality.

Wellington chose to study architecture because, he said,representation matters.

"In the African American community, I feel like if we grow up there, we can help design there. We have an understanding of what is best for those communities," he explained.

Wellington also co-founded MKE Black, an organization that celebrates and promotes African American business and culture.

Marion Clendenen-Acosta, one of fewlicensed African American female architects in the stateand the chair of the Historical Preservation Committee, said she is glad to see architects of color striving for more diversity in the profession.

"It's great to see the energy," she said.

Wellington said this project is just the beginning.He wants to expand MKE Black to an electronic app and explorethe role of African American women in architecture.

The only way to solve the field's current lack of diversity, he said,is showing whats possible.

"Black Built" will be available at Boswell BookCompanyand onAmazon.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story saidthat Marion Clendenen-Acosta is the only licensed African American female architect in Wisconsin. Anina Mbilinyi is also a licensed femaleAfrican American architect.

Contact Talis Shelbourne at (414) 223-5261 or tshelbourn@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @talisseerand Facebook at @talisseer.

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'Black Built' celebrates the works of African American architects from around the country - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel