Gerald Billes

Gerald’s father was one of thousands of Black people who migrated to Tuskegee for job opportunities and good schools for their children. Gerald watched his father get initial management experience at the Tuskegee Veterans Administration Hospital, which had been built for Black veterans, to later become the only Black head administrator at several veteran hospitals throughout the north and south. 

Gerald writes that his father was very serious about education, challenging him to read the entire World Book Encyclopedia.

He remembers his parents being very involved in the Civil Rights Movement, helping prepare neighbors to vote. They also supported his sister, Heloise, as one of the Lee v Macon Board of Education 12 plaintiffs who integrated Alabama schools.

Being from a very fair-skinned family, Gerald shared stories of the role skin color played in his family’s interaction with the White world. While there were many instances of prejudice and discrimination, he recalls how they often played the system and had the last laugh when traveling.  The family had a trick of sending his White-appearing mother and grandfather into hotels to get reservations, while the rest of the family followed once they had the room keys.

Gerald integrated Tulane University’s School of Architecture in 1964, graduating with top honors. He later attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, graduating with honors.

He owns an architectural design firm and taught as adjunct faculty in the schools of architecture at Tulane and at his father’s alma mater, Southern University.