Theories of regional economic development are increasingly focused on understanding the reasons for metropolitan economic growth. The "creative capital" perspective argues that such growth is extremely dependent on the presence of four main conditions: technology, talent, tolerance, and good quality of place. This article examines evidence for the importance of tolerance in promoting metropolitan economic development. Through his analysis, Richard Florida studied the association of economic growth with the presence of gays and lesbians, bohemians, immigrants, and racial minorities. Literature confirms that diversity is an important component of economic development, although this does not appear to be fully explained by Florida's creative-cities model.

One of the biggest tasks facing planning educators in the coming years is to develop learning environments that meet the challenge of diversity. Educators

No abstract

This article argues for a more racially conscious perspective of planning history, one that is more sensitive to the history of African- American urbanization. For many years racial segregation and conflict influenced patterns of city residence, public housing, and renewal policies. Racial unrest and the civil rights movements helped generate "social" and advocacy planning. In the last two decades, the status of black urban life has become an increasingly important issue for those who plan central cities and metropolitan areas. It is time to recognize these linkages and address them more forthrightly. This is a particularly important area of concern for planning educators.

This article reviews some basic concepts about planners' role in obtaining a just city, focusing in particular upon the possible role of racial minorities in the process of reaching such a city. We adopt Fainstein's two-part definition of what is 'valued' in a just city, and then discuss how planners who are racial minorities might be helpful for one part of that definition. Minority-race professionals may help bring tangible benefits to the workforce, but these benefits become difficult to cultivate if minority-race professionals experience difficulties in their work environment. Interviews with several US black planners provide illustrative examples concerning these points.