Career and the profession By William Richards
Fewer than one in five new architects identify as racial or
ethnic minorities, and just about two in five are women, according to the
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. As we work to achieve a
future of greater equity, diversity, and inclusion in the profession, we can
learn important lessons in reckoning with the past. The Pioneering Architects series celebrates
the legacy of architects who overcame unimaginable obstacles. In sharing their
stories, we aim to pay overdue tribute to their talents, honor their courage,
and learn from their experiences.
A single photograph is perhaps the only evidence of the 1928
Pioneer, Bridge Builder and Statesman A Conversation with Ambassador Edward J. Perkins
Ambassador Edward J. Perkins is the 2020 Recipient of the Award for Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy.
NOTE: Ambassador Edward J. Perkins died on Nov. 7, days before this interview about his life and work went to press. He was 92. We extend our condolences to the family and are particularly grateful to his daughters, Katherine and Sarah, for helping to make this well-deserved tribute possible.
President Ronald Reagan talks with Ambassador to South Africa Edward J. Perkins at the White House in May 1987. Seated at right are Secretary of State George Shultz, U.S. National Security Adviser Frank Carlucci and, at far right, National Security Council Senior Director for Africa Hank Cohen.