In 1968, civil rights leader Whitney M. Young, Jr. delivered an historic address to the American Institute of Architects. He challenged the profession to enfranchise all citizens in the conversations about cities and work toward a more inclusive professional ethic. A half-century later, these powerful reflections on the meaning and importance of the speech call us again to a collective commitment. We must all re-dedicate ourselves toward the fulfillment of democratic ideals in the way we build our cities and work to enfranchise all voices and contributions in the American dream. Take the Whitney Young challenge by re-dedicating your own professional work to represent the highest ideals of democratic inclusion.
From AIA's
Center for Communities by Design, this short film provides an overview of the speech that Whitney Young, Jr. delivered for his keynote address at the 1968 AIA Convention in Portland, Oregon.
Learn how Young's speech transformed the profession >
Read the text of Young's speech >
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Image credit: American Institute of Architects