AIArchitect

I'm not a very active member, but as for AIA - while the organization is doing better at serving and promoting the profession, the value is way overpriced. NOMA - I'm of the opinion that anytime there is a special group for minorities, it only serves to make deeper the divide.

When Louis Kahn asked the brick "what it liked", the brick didn't respond by asking the color of the architect. Our profession needs to better reflect the society at large through agressive diversity efforts, but we must remain united as architects, whatever our background.

As a African-American female architect, when I see publications like the newly redesigned "Architect" magazine which appears to solely promote the white male perspective, then I know that NOMA is needed and there is much work to be done. I am a member of both the AIA and NOMA and believe the two organizations can [and must] work together to improve the level of inclusion of minority architects within the greater architectural community.

Being Jamaican by birth and conditioning;
American by legal processing/filtration;
African-American - which technically and culturally I'm not but I check the box for personal gain and political affinity;
'Minority' by those desperately trying to retain social authority?,
'Architect' another legal process. Then there are the once fashionable inventions - 'affirmative action' and 'supplier diversity' programs...

In their respective realms, labels serve a valid purpose. However helpful, they are reductive; as well as distract and di-vert attention. But worse labels entrench seperatism.

Our job remains constant - to open our minds and hearts to the magnificence of humanity and to express that as architects. It is not the common ground that is to be sought, it is the strength to welcome difference without attempting to convert or dominate.

The question is not AIA or NOMA (a limiting duality). The question is what do we gain by having AIA AND NOMA? What do we surmount by regular joint sessions with the Asian Amer. Architects and Engineers Asso? Probably greater credibility in the eyes of society, greater political sway; and (one can only hope) better designs for the people who inhabit our spaces.

Seeing people of different genders, backgrounds or affiliations as different only causes division and separatism when the division is seen as a dominance submission argument. That is one of the patterns imprinted on our society. I see that as a response based out of fear. There is no need to dominate what you do not fear.

I have read the biblical injuction about perfect love casting out fear. I recognize that nowhere in this world is there perfect love. Yet to love implies a relationship where dominance is not neccesary even in the face of uneven abilities and challenging circumstances. Does the mother of a parapalegic child not love her child because he can not walk while the mother can? Would a loving mother of such a child seek to dominate the child? Rather the mother would celebrate the insights and abilities the child posesses. She would make use of those abilities while using her own strengths to benefit the child.

What serves for people should also serve for organizations, political groups, racial and cultural groups. In any firm the best performance comes from acknowledging that all people are not the same and creating a culture where strengths are leveraged to overcome weakness and everyone is encouraged to be more today than they were yesterday. A person with an Asian sensability for philosophy and a sense of rhythm learned from African American culture might be Latno by birth. We can all be more than we appear. Becoming culturally informed opens up a world of possibilities for design.

Organizations, like individuals, have their strengths and weaknesses. The AIA and NOMA (among other organizations) each serve a vital role in bringing about a more abundant society by better use of our diverse cultural resources. Neither can replace the other. Both would benefit from working more closeley together. Crafting a partnership that went beyond dominance and was not overwhelmed by financial realities is an improbable but positive step to achieving that goal faster.

In this case, faster is better because our society desperately needs a model to follow to resolve racial separatism issues that continue to plague our world. Around the globe the dominace/submission posing poisons the ability of peacemakers to craft a better world for all humanity. Sadly, those who are most effective in the dominance game see little problem with the game. "Everyone should work to win as I did", is their motto. The consequence is that those who are "losing" the dominance game see dominance as the only acceptable response to the challenge. I pray we will one day be able to leave the dominance games behind and simply live together respecting each person for what they know, feel and have experienced and not expecting them to "be like me". Each person brings value not by being like someone else but by being who they are. Perhaps we can yet learn to love within our firms and profession.

Peace my brothers and sisters.