During the month of February, ASLA hosted the webinar series Memorializing Black Spaces, a design celebration for Black History Month. Reflecting on the ASLA Racial Equity Plan of Action, programming focused on the reconciliation of the past and creation of pathways to secure a more equitable, just future. 

 Sojourner Truth Memorial Project and Park Plaza in Akron, OH

  
On Thursday, February 9, Dion J. Harris, ASLA discussed the evolution of the Sojourner Truth Memorial Project and Park Plaza in Akron, OH. The project pays homage to the Suffrage Centennial in Summit County. He was joined by co-presenters Lawana Holland-Moore, Director of Fellowships and Interpretive Strategies at the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and Towanda Mullins, Chair, Sojourner Truth Project.

Divine Nine Spaces: Designing Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs) History 

 Image of Wake Forest. The Pan-Hellenic Garden on the campus of Wake Forest University was built in 2010. The garden has nine brick and granite podiums — one for each of the Black fraternities and sororities that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC).

On February 15 and 28, Diane Jones Allen, FASLA and Glenn LaRue Smith, FASLA discussed historic Black landscapes memorializing the history of Black Greek Letter Organization (BGLO) spaces. BGLO spaceshave been represented by dedicated trees, meticulously landscaped spaces, and monuments.

Allen discussed her current project, the Divine Nine Project on the campus of Georgia Tech in Atlanta, GA. Smith discussed his design of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated Centennial Monument and the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated Centennial Monument, both located on the campus of Howard University in Washington, DC.  The recordings are now available for viewing in the ASLA Diversity Webinar Vimeo Showcase. 

Access the ASLA Diversity Webinar series here.

• Access Divine Nine Spaces I with Dr. Diane Jones Allen, FASLA here.
• Access Divine Nine Spaces II with Glenn LaRue Smith, FASLA here. 

Continue reading about the history of Divine Nine Spaces here and view the spectacular photo gallery of Divine Nine spaces and Black community celebrations below. 

Background
During the first half of the twentieth century, as young Black students began enrolling in predominately white institutions (PWI), they were met with racism and exclusion from campus organizations, including fraternities and sororities.  

Communities of Black students met their exclusion with the determination to form communities and spaces where they would be welcomed, celebrated, prepared to lead this country, and supported by fellow Black students. Students began forming Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLO) as early as 1906. BGLO were similarly formed at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). 

In his documentary on BGLOs, Henry Louis Gates Jr. explains that “With education, community service, and philanthropy as their focal point, these organizations were able to foster academic and personal excellence on their own terms … [They] created the National Pan-Hellenic Council, totaling nine organizations with like-minded agendas. Each of those organizations continue to be pivotal in the continued advancement of Black people.” 

  Phi Beta Sigma Centennial Monument. Image Credit: PUSH Studio/Glenn LaRue Smith, FASLA   

  Divine Nine pillars at the University of Daytona. Image Credit: FlyerNews University of Daytona, Zoe Hill 

Members of the first two BGLO - Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity Incorporated, founded in 1906, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, founded in 1908. Image Credit: Saint Augustine’s University Divine Nine Plots, courtesy of Saint Augustine’s University / Jerrell Jordan, Jordan Esteem Photography

Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, founded in 1908. Image Credit: Saint Augustine’s University Divine Nine Plots, courtesy of Saint Augustine’s University / Jerrell Jordan, Jordan Esteem Photography

Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, founded in 1913. Image Credit: Saint Augustine’s University Divine Nine Plots, courtesy of Saint Augustine’s University / Jerrell Jordan, Jordan Esteem Photography

Members of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated, founded in 1922. Image Credit: Saint Augustine’s University Divine Nine Plots, courtesy of Saint Augustine’s University / Jerrell Jordan, Jordan Esteem Photography

Members of Kappa Alpha Phi Fraternity Incorporated, founded in 1911. Image Credit: Saint Augustine’s University Divine Nine Plots, courtesy of Saint Augustine’s University / Jerrell Jordan, Jordan Esteem Photography

 Members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated, founded in 1920, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated founded in 1914. Image Credit: Saint Augustine’s University Divine Nine Plots, courtesy of Saint Augustine’s University / Jerrell Jordan, Jordan Esteem Photography  

Members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, founded in 1911. Image Credit: Saint Augustine’s University Divine Nine Plots, courtesy of Saint Augustine’s University/Jerrell Jordan, Jordan Esteem Photography 

Members of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, founded in 1963. Image credit: Members of Iota Phi Theta courtesy of Fridson Janvier (@fridson44) /@Vattmediamarketing @l1onheart.creations

Please direct questions about the Divine Nine Spaces webinar series, past Black History Month celebrations and the complete collection of ASLA Diversity Webinars to Lisa J. Jennings, Senior Manager, Career Discovery and Diversity at diversity@asla.org.