Collier Heights: Vintage MCM by and for Black Americans

 Today, let's chat about the gorgeous mid-century modern
neighborhood of Collier Heights in Atlanta, Georgia which was
planned for, built by, and lived in by Black Atlantans.


Note: This isn't a story about a silver lining to the bad
situation that is racism.  Nor is it any kind of an example
of solutions that point the a way forward today.  (We will
not make America better by building better quality segregated
spaces.) Instead, I see the history of Collier Heights and the
dedicated citizens who built it as example of making lemonade out
of some pretty sour lemons. 


Hey friends.  I’m still thinking a lot about race and
housing in the US this week … so that’s what you’re going to hear
about from me.  Last week I dug into some the factors that
have prevented black families in america from owning their own
homes and there were many.  But that doesn’t mean that no
black people lived in, designed or loved mid-century style
houses. 


In today's episode you'll hear ...


How the movie Hidden Figures tells the story of talented
black women working to contribute to the early years of NASA and
and was shot in the real homes of talented black citizens who
lived outside of Atlanta during the same era. [2:00]

How to go check out some amazing photographs and oral history
of Collier Heights in the 2016 photo essay prepared by Lydia A
harris for Southern Spaces and why they were built with such
astonishing social spaces hidden in their basements [3:15]

An abbreviated history of how Atlanta (and really cities
across America) used official planning policies and government
created committees to facilitate racially segregated communities
during the MCM period [4:40]

More Atlanta context via the excellent history podcast
Archive Atlanta [7:35]

Mini Bios of two talented Black Atlanta architects: J.W.
Robinson and Edward Miller who helped build both Collier Heights
and a safe space for another generation of Black architects in
Georgia [9:15]



Get all the links and more at www.midmod-midwest.com/310/