You’veseenthebuilding.Nowmeetthemanwhoselifewentintoit.PhilipFreelon’sgrandfatherwasanacclaimedpainteroftheHarlemRenaissance.Hisfatherwasasuccessfulbusinessmanwhoattendedthe1963MarchonWashington.WhenPhildecidedtoattendarchitectureschool,hecreatedhisownfocusonAfricanAmericanandIslamicdesigners.Helaterchosenottobuildcasinosorprisons,insteadconcentratingonschools,libraries,andmuseums--buildingsthatconnectpeoplewithheritageandfillheartswithjoy.Andin2009,Phil’steamwonacommissionthatlethimusehispersonalhistoryinservicetothecountry’s:theextraordinarySmithsonianNationalMuseumofAfricanAmericanHistoryandCulture.DreamBuilder:TheStoryofArchitectPhilipFreeloncelebratesacontemporaryblackSTEAMrolemodel,amanwhosequietworkenabledthecreationofaniconicbuildingreflectingAmerica’spastandfuture.WithastirringtextbyKellyStarlingLyons,vibrantpicturesbyLauraFreeman,andanafterwordfromPhilipFreelonhimself,itissuretoinspirethenextgenerationofdreamersandbuilders.
