Architecture is often framed as luxury…sleek skyscraper’s, glossy renderings, and celebrity designers. But at Howard University, what I’m learning as an architecture student goes far beyond aesthetics. Architecture, at its core, is about people, power, and access. It shapes how communities live, move, and thrive. When design ignores marginalized communities, it reinforces inequality. When it centers them, it becomes a tool for liberation. One of the most critical ideas I’ve engaged within my studies is housing equity. Redlining, urban renewal, and discriminatory zoning policies didn’t just “happen”, they were designed. Neighborhoods were intentionally disinvested in, highways were cut through Black communities, and public housing was treated as an afterthought rather than a dignified place to live. These decisions still shape our cities today. As a Black woman studying architecture at an HBCU, I’m learning to read buildings and neighborhoods as historical documents as evidence of who was valued and who was not.

At Howard, architectural education doesn’t exist in a vacuum. We are constantly encouraged to think about who we are designing for. Affordability, sustainability, and cultural relevance are not side conversations; they are central to the work. A floor plan isn’t just a plan, it’s a reflection of how families gather. A façade isn’t just material, it’s a bold statement about identity and pride. When Black designers are absent from the table, Black communities often pay the price. What excites me most is learning how design can actively repair harm. Concepts like adaptive reuse, community-centered planning, and sustainable materials are not just trends, they’re strategies! They allow architects to work with communities rather than impose solutions onto them. Good design should feel intentional for people, and not invasive on them. HBCUs like Howard are incubators for this kind of thinking.The rigor is real and the critique is honest, but the work ultimately demands responsibility. Architecture is never neutral; it reflects values, priorities, and power, often in ways people don’t immediately see. Every decision from scale to material to placement, shapes how individuals and communities move through the world. Those choices can either reinforce harm or help restore dignity.

As I continue my education in this field, I am learning to design with care and intention. I want my work to respond to real needs, create a sense of belonging, and honor the people who will live, work, and gather in the spaces I design.