Donald White is best remembered for becoming the state of Michigan’s first licensed Black architect, in 1938.

He also was the first African American to graduate from the University of Michigan’s School of Architecture, in 1932. He designed mostly churches. Most of his designs have since been demolished, but the Aijalon Baptist Church in Detroit's Midwest-Tireman neighborhood and Rightway Baptist Church in Core City are among those he was involved with that survive. As Noir Design Parti, an organization that celebrates the work of Black architects in Detroit, explains, "In the ‘40s and ‘50s, faith leaders were often the only members of black communities with the resources to hire architects, so churches necessarily became the most prevalent type of building designed by Black architects."

Among White's non-religious works was the Paradise Bowl bowling alley in Paradise Valley, which was built by Joe Louis in 1942, according to Unfortunately, it was destroyed by fire in 1950. Sadly, because it was Black clients and churches hiring Black architects, and because most of those commissions were in Black neighborhoods often targeted for demolition under the guise of "urban renewal," few of these buildings survive today.

In 1946, he and fellow Black architect Francis Griffin formed the architectural firm White & Griffin. It has been said that the firm not only sought to design great buildings but to provide opportunity to Black architects. Among the most successful of those who launched successful careers thanks to White & Griffin was Nathan Johnson, who would go on to become the city's most celebrated Black architect.

Photo of White via Noir Design Parti