Basic Magnesium, Inc. (BMI), “Redlining,” Paul R. Williams, and the Building of
Abstract
The story of Basic Magnesium, Inc. (BMI), and the building of Carver Park, which was a black residential area in Henderson, Nevada, is quite unique. Specifically, back during World War II, “magnesium” was used in making bombs, flares, pyrotechnics, and other lightweight alloys for aircraft, trucks, tools, and industrial machinery; and workers were especially needed to manufacture and put in place such crucial war materials. Therefore, it was not surprising that BMI workers needed a place to live, especially blacks from southern states seeking jobs opportunities. Indeed, finding factory jobs were their top priority. Unfortunately, black workers had to struggle with “redlining” or housing segregation; and their resident problems, at first, went unaddressed by the city of Henderson, Nevada. Hence, Carver Park was built to accommodate the housing of black migrants, which was reaching a critical point. Carver Park was designed by the great black architect, Paul Revere Williams, whose major job was to help establish a housing community for black employees working at BMI. In this regard, there was a lot of symbolism in the building of Carver Park as it created a safe heaven for black people, in general, who had to face a segregated system that they believed was rigged against them because of their race.