Biff_Poindexter
Diamond Member
- Jun 6, 2018
- 26,844
- 14,789
Paul R. Williams Redesigned the Beverly Hills Hotel. But Because He Was Black, He Couldn't Stay There
Imagine it’s the 1940s and you’ve given years of your life to redesigning one of the most iconic hotels in the United States. Imagine it’s then hailed by your peers as a modern-day marvel. Now, imagine you’re not even allowed to stay there because you’re Black.
www.necn.com
"Imagine it's the 1940s and you've given years of your life to redesigning one of the most iconic hotels in the United States. Imagine it's then hailed by your peers as a modern-day marvel. Now, imagine you're not even allowed to stay there because you're Black. That was the reality for Paul R. Williams, the architect behind The Beverly Hills Hotel and some of the most iconic buildings in Los Angeles, including The Los Angeles County Courthouse and Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills more than 3,000 other structures.
But despite his genius vision, Williams still had to overcome the discrimination of clients who saw his race before his talent. "He had a few things he would use just to help him to win them [clients] over," said Williams' granddaughter, Karen E. Hudson. "They got there and stopped in their tracks because they didn't realize he was Black, and they were ready to back out.""He would say, what's your vision, as you sat there across the desk from him," says Hudson. "He would sketch it upside down, and it would come alive before your eyes." Williams did all he could to win clients over, but would never use methods to degrade himself. "The fact that he was willing to turn work down intrigued people even more," said Hudson."
Seems a shame that despite making a hotel iconic by its design; that person was still not welcomed as a guest at that hotel. I guess this is why Black History month is so triggering for some and inspiring to others; -- triggering to those who get educated about the past and find out it is inconvenient to the bullshit they have told themselves -- inspiring to others who feel more empowered to aspire to things society has told them they can't or are not supposed to do.