Architecture of Segregation by Jerel McCants
In Architecture of Segregation: The Hierarchy of Spaces and Places, the intricate interplay between architecture and societal divisions is meticulously explored, providing a comprehensive analysis of how built environments have shaped and reflected racial, ethnic, and social segregation throughout history.
This groundbreaking work delves deep into the historical contexts of segregation, from the indigenous peoples of North America to the African diaspora through the Triangular Slave Trade, to the Holocaust, uncovering how architecture played a pivotal role in the subjugation of marginalized communities. This book navigates through pivotal moments like the Nuremberg Race Laws, Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court decision and the establishment of Jim Crow segregation laws, and subsequent immigration acts and restrictions, shedding light on how legal frameworks influenced architectural design, policy and urban planning. It also examines the enduring legacies of segregation on contemporary society, demonstrating the profound and lasting impact of architectural decisions. Architecture of Segregation ultimately calls for a reevaluation of the role architects play in perpetuating or dismantling these divisions, challenging readers to consider the ethical implications of design and its potential to foster equality and inclusion in the built environment.
meet: jerel
Author of
Architecture of Segregation: The Hierarchy of Spaces and Places
Mr. Jerel McCants is a native of Chattanooga, TN and a 1996 graduate of Tennessee State University with a B.S. degree in architectural engineering. He earned a Master of Architecture from University of South Florida, Tampa in 2001. He was honored to become a Student Ambassador to the Soviet Union in high school during the summer of 1990 under the Dwight D. Eisenhower’s “People to People for Understanding” Program. In Graduate School, he studied abroad in Paris, France in 1999 within the USF Overseas Study Program, which continued his passion to learn from other cultures. With this desire, to date he has visited over 30 countries and was a volunteer with a Haiti Relief Mission at his Church to build shelters after the earthquake in 2010.
His career developed working for Architectural and Construction Firms in Nashville, Atlanta, and Tampa. He worked on high profile projects and rose through career ranks by becoming a Project Manager.
During the Great Recession, Jerel established Jerel McCants Architecture, Inc. A full-service boutique architectural firm specializing in Municipal, Educational, Cultural, Residential and Federal Markets. He continued his education by earning a certificate in Community Real Estate Development in 2010 from the USF Florida Institute of Development.
Jerel’s organizational experience is broad: he has served on the American Institute of Architect’s, Tampa Bay Chapter President. He is a member of Plant City Lodge #208 of Prince Hall, F&AM, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He has served his community in politics working to organize support for Presidential Candidate Barrack Obama. Jerel was elected as a Delegate to the 11th Congressional District Delegate for the Democratic National Convention in 2008 and was also elected to Precinct Committeeman, Precinct #207 for two terms. His firm has won various awards and has been published in various magazines and online journals.
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