We were beginning to organize sleepy Indianapolis AKA Nap Town.  Ministers, local elected officials were realizing their clout and how to translate it to economic empowerment.  One day I realized that Indianapolis Public Schools was about to build 12 new schools and this was a great opportunity for 12 construction management contracts along with 12 architecture contracts.  Of course, anything big and different will not be easy and a traditional fight was going to be mandatory.  We began the struggle.

Things were good at the School Board level in that 4 of the 7 members were Black and all could not have been there without the help of the Black ministers.  I went to the Concerned Clergy Association and explained the upcoming opportunities.  They summoned the Black board members and told them that all (not some) of the architectural and construction management contracts should go to our community.  The board members understood.

The next logical stop was with Mr. Rodney Black, IPS Business Manager.  Rodney was a traditional white guy bureaucrat who had been at that position for decades.  I asked “Mr. Black isn’t it time we used a Black construction management firm”?  His reply was cold, “There is no such thing in the state of Indiana”.  It was on!  Two weeks later I brought to him three Black construction management firms:  Powers and Sons from Gary, Indiana; Murdock Construction Co. from South Bend, Indiana and Batteast and Sons Construction also from South Bend.  They gave their presentations and then I summed it all up, “Mr. Black I understand that there is a construction management contract coming up within the next month.  Also, Dr. Shirl Gilbert will become the new Superintendent of Schools just after that.  Dr. Gilbert and I are friends and I have his ‘ear’.  You, sir, are going to hire one of these three firms for that construction management contract.  One of these three will be in place by the time Dr. Gilbert arrives.  If not, you will be fired shortly thereafter.  It is not a threat but a promise.  Trust me!”  We left

He and the contractors thought I was crazy but eventually they realized I was dead serious.  The day before Dr. Gilbert came into office Powers and Sons called and informed me that they had just signed the contract.  History was made!  It was the first construction management contract given to a Black firm in the state of Indiana.  Now that the mold was broken we could go after the upcoming 12 projects.  The whole town was abuzz and the white power structure was beginning to get very nervous.  The biggest thing was that Dr. Gilbert came into office knowing Black firms can do the job.  Actually, the fact was our Black firms were more qualified than the white ones.  Our guys were Purdue, Michigan St. and Ohio St. trained engineers. They were also second and third generation family firms.  The situation for our architects was identical. It became apparent that if the process relied on skill sets it was going to be like basketball or football.  We could win.  All this time we were running for the “crumbs” when we actually deserved premium “slices”.  With the majority of board votes and a proud Black superintendent things were going to change for the better.

We had the board members assemble a competitive task force.  All twelve construction management contracts as well as the twelve architecture contracts will be based on formal presentations by the competing firms to the taskforce.  15 architecture firms and 32 construction management firms competed.  It was truly amazing when it was over.  The Black firms blew all their white competition away with quality, track record and professionalism. It was heartwarming to hear from the founders who passed the baton on to their well educated children and the process of grooming the third generation was beginning to jell.  All of them came from Southern roots and the equalizer was getting their children well trained at some of the finest schools in the nation and emulating that same process with the grandchildren.  At the end of the process, two Black construction management firms, Powers and Sons and S.R. Smoot (Columbus, Ohio), received six schools each.  They quickly established subsidiary offices in Indianapolis and began hiring locally.  Two local Black architecture firms, Blackburn and Woods, received six schools each also.

The final decision rested with Dr. Gilbert.  The school board voted down racial lines and many white firms threatened to sue.  Dr. Gilbert’s closing words were music to our ears, “I understand that in the 80 years of operation, this school system has never had a Black construction management firm or Black architect doing any work.  I am proud to break that tradition based on the merit of the competitors.”

Finally, the Black business community of Indianapolis had arrived.