Architecture Center Houston is proud to announce their upcoming exhibition Unequal Inequities, opening Wednesday, October 2, 5:30-7:30pm, and on view through January 17. Taking inspiration from Richard Rothstein’s The Color of Law. Rothstein’s book detailed how government policies from the 1920s through the late 1960s fostered segregation, the effects of which linger on today. The book's exploration of redlining, discriminatory lending, and biased urban planning is the foundation for the exhibit. Unequal Inequities uses chapters from The Color Of Law as a lens through which to view how the demographic landscape of Houston was shaped and how Houston’s marginalized populations struggled against and adapted to the de jure (government mandated) and de facto (private sector driven) segregation woven into the city's fabric.

Rothstein’s newest work, Just Action: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under the Color of Law, will inform programming around the exhibit, offering visitors actionable steps to address these ongoing disparities. Through workshops, panel discussions, and community forums, attendees will learn how to advocate for equitable housing, challenge exclusionary zoning, and support inclusive community efforts. The exhibit not only lays bare the impact of past injustices but also presents current design explorations and community initiatives aimed at reversing these inequities. We hope that visitors will leave inspired not only by a deeper understanding of Houston’s complex history but also by a commitment to driving change toward a more just and equitable city.

The alignment and construction of US 59 through 5th Ward caused the systemic loss and removal of multiple businesses in the community. The alignment cut off the core of the community - the intersection of Jensen and Lyons avenue - from the residences towards the east. The once vibrant community began to lose businesses not only shutered due to the construction, but also from the lack of walkability and traffic.

 

This exhibition is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, Rice School of Architecture, and Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design at the University of Houston.