Thanks to the contributions of Carter G. Woodson a century ago, we observe Black History Month each February across New York City, honoring the profound contributions of the African American community and illuminating a rich history that has been critical to the growth and success of our city. The intent to not only remember, but celebrate Black luminaries sparked a movement that transformed how Americans recognize the contributions of the Black community. Yet, despite this impact, the contributions of Black New Yorkers, particularly in the construction and engineering trades, have not always received the recognition they deserve.
Last month, I was appointed as the first African American Commissioner of the New York City Department of Buildings. I am humbled and honored to continue serving the city I grew up in and the fellow New Yorkers who call it home. This role places me at an agency that sits at the intersection of the people of New York City and the buildings where we live, work, and gather. During Black History Month, this moment invites reflection on the generations of African Americans whose labor, skill, and ingenuity helped shape that intersection and laid the foundation for the city we know today.
From the enslaved people forced into labor to build colonial Manhattan, to the thousands of skilled professionals of African American heritage who work across the five boroughs today, African American labor and ingenuity have been a constant and essential force in shaping New York City. This history may be little known, but the legacies of African American inventors, community leaders, and design professionals from New York City offer valuable lessons and strategies for addressing the challenges we face today.
One individual who inspired future generations was Vertner Woodson Tandy. At the turn of the 20th century, Tandy became the first African American architect licensed in New York, leaving an indelible mark on Harlem through designs like St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, a distinctive red brick building now recognized as a New York City Landmark. In 1954, Harlem native Norma Merrick Sklarek became the first African American woman licensed as an architect in New York. Beginning her career at the then Department of Public Works, she went on to design landmark projects across the country, including Los Angeles International Airport. Both Tandy and Sklarek entered a profession that offered little welcome, yet through talent and determination, they paved the way for generations of designers.
In the late 19th century, inventor Lewis Latimer advanced electrical and elevator safety, patenting improvements to carbon filaments that made more durable lightbulbs possible and later supervising the installation of electric streetlights in New York and beyond. In the 1920s and 1930s, mechanical and electrical engineer David Crosthwait Jr. patented innovative heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, creating steam heating solutions that are still in use today in iconic buildings like Radio City Music Hall. Their innovations remind us that bold vision and creativity shapes modern life.
On the advocacy front, Richard Moore and the Harlem Tenants League fought against poor housing and unfair evictions in the 1920s and 1930s, providing a blueprint for tenant organizing that is still followed today. In the 1950s and 1960s, Assemblymember Jesse Gray and the Community Council for Housing took on abusive landlords using rent strikes and public campaigns to secure fair treatment for tenants. These pioneers show that courage, communication, and collective action can challenge entrenched power and achieve lasting change.
The innovation, advocacy, and trailblazing spirit of Black New Yorkers will guide our work this February and beyond. As the mayor calls for an all-of-government approach to affordability, the Department of Buildings will be ready to do our part. Facing housing and affordability crises, rising costs for small businesses, and pressures on tenants and property owners, we are committed to working on new solutions. We will support affordable housing development, re-assess our framework for fines and fees that burden small businesses, and hold bad actors accountable if they drive up costs for everyone else.
At the same time, we will advance safe and efficient building practices that foster the growth that benefits neighborhoods and the people who call them home.
This administration can make a real difference in the lives of New Yorkers by drawing on the lessons of resilience, innovation, and perseverance from Black history. In doing so, we honor this holiday’s original purpose — not only by celebrating a history that shaped our city, but by forging new milestones that chart the path to a stronger future.
Ahmed Tigani is Commissioner, NYC Department of Buildings.