Website you ought to check out if you want to know more.
First African-American architect member of the American Institute of Architects in 1923. First certified African-American architect west of the Mississippi.
Orphan at four, he was the only African-American student in his elementary school. That stuff sounds familiar.
Like Chappelle says, “you might not want to be the first nigga to do anything in this world.” Paul did though. Most of his work is things people wanted, not so much what HE wanted. People would fight even with FLW to get what they want so obviously Paul wasn’t going to get lynched for an interior. No black man even today can say “Fuck you, I am the architect” to his clients.
I’m wondering what his output would have been if he had been truly free. I mean he did these:
And a couple other modern stuff. The dude knew his shit. Look at his own house, in Los Angeles:
Far from the classic Spanish or American colonial revival he did so often.
SUPER MASSIVE SIGH OVER RACE AND STUFF.