Black history forums open architecture school series

The School of Architecture and Planning’s Public Programs series for spring 2026 opens in February with two forums celebrating 100 years of Black history.

“Reimagine Black Futures during the Age of Authoritarianism” looks to understand how racial capitalism operating within an authoritarian framework is leading to underdevelopment of Black neighborhoods and undermining the health and social well-being of people of African descent in the United States.

The two panels will explore several questions: What does Black freedom look like? How does racist authoritarianism threaten people of African descent in the United States? How should Black people fight back in the age of racist authoritarianism?

Forum I will take place from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 4 in 403 Hayes Hall, South Campus. Four scholars in urban planning, sociology, social welfare and health will examine the dangers posed by racist authoritarianism, discuss strategies for fighting back and reimagine a Black future in which people of African descent live in a nation grounded in radical democracy, anti-racism and socioeconomic justice.

The panelists:

• Henry-Louis Taylor Jr., professor of urban and regional planning and director of the Center for Urban Studies, School of Architecture and Planning.
• Lisa K. Bates, professor of Black studies, Portland State University.
• Prentiss Dantzler, associate professor of sociology, University of Toronto.
• Jamal B. Williams, assistant professor of psychiatry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Keith A. Alford, professor and dean of the School of Social Work, will serve as moderator.

Forum II will be held from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 25 in 403 Hayes Hall.

During this session, former and current UB architecture and planning students will discuss the role of the school in preparing them to resist racist authoritarianism and build a more democratic and just nation.

The panelists:

• Enjoli Hall, Master of Urban Planning, Class of 2017.
• DaMante’ Curry, Bachelor of Science in biological sciences, Class of 2019; Master of Science in Real Estate Development, Class of 2026.
• Jillian Daniels, Master of Architecture, Class of 2028.

Taylor will serve as moderator.

The forums are free and open to the public. Register for each forum online. 

The architecture school’s Public Programs series explores themes in architecture and urban planning. Also speaking this semester are:

• Aleksandra Jaeschke, associate professor, University of Texas at Austin, Rudy Bruner Center for Urban Excellence Lecture, March 4.
• Charisma Acey, associate professor of city and regional planning, University of California, Berkeley, Jammal Lecture, March 25.
• Annabelle Selldorf, architect and founding principal, Selldorf Architects, Bethune Lecture, April 1.
• Keller Easterling, architect, writer and the Enid Storm Dwyer Professor of Architecture, Yale University, Clarkson Chair Lecture, April 15.
• María Novas, senior lecturer and researcher, chair of history and theory of urban design, ETH Zürich, Stratigakos Fellow Lecture, April 21.
• Mark Jarzombek, professor of the history and theory of architecture, MIT, April 22.

More details can be found on the program’s webpage.