Welcome to Fear of a Black Planner. Many of the problems, challenges, and opportunities discussed here would be relevant, in some form, to any time in US history – we as a country haven’t made adequate progress, even since Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) began demanding a seat at the table. The specific circumstances under which I began this blog – the coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing protests for expanded racial and social equity – have provided a uniquely strange prism through which to look critically at the discipline, practice, and problems of urban planning. With that in mind, I, as well as guests, will be discussing the role of racial and social minorities in urban planning’s past, as well as scrutinizing and interrogating our place in its present. Most importantly, we will be contemplating, designing, and integrating our principles while advocating for a prominent and meaningful place in its future.
Sometimes, this will look like an angry rant. And that may scare people, as Black anger invariably does with audiences unaccustomed to witnessing it and unwilling to understand it. There will be some who are offended by or chafe at some of the things written here. And that’s perfectly fine. Some of these things are meant to offend. They are not, however, meant to be disrespectful when respect is warranted. I and others will simply speak the truth as we understand and have experienced it. This will provide an opportunity for all of us, whether we agree or not, to stop and think about their place in systems of oppression, hostility, and hierarchy.
There will be some things written here that show a clear lament for missed or lost opportunities, as well as for struggles that we are still fighting. This, however, will never signal a sense of defeat – planners of color who have a stake in their community are rarely in a position to accept defeat and not go right back to the fight. Because, simply put, the stakes are too high. We are not unique in feeling the negative effects of planning, development, and policy outcomes, whether as a mistake in hindsight or a designed, malicious action. However, we know too well that these problems can prolong generational struggles and a lack of opportunities for prosperity for our friends and neighbors.
Urban planners, in all of our specializations and functions, occupy a unique space in the function of cities and metropolitan regions. We critically examine the needs of our neighborhoods, cities, regions, and individual clients, and carefully create plans to reconcile many (often conflicting) needs and interests. We advocate for responsible, equitable, and sustainable change, often in a world that is denying and resisting how rapid the pace of change really is. This job, whether it is in practice or in academia, requires one to take a stand for something.
All planners are activists.
But not all planners are activists for equity.
Fear of a Black Planner 