 After designing several buildings, she became the first black woman to own her own business practice with two women Margot Siegel and Katherine Diamond from 1985-1989.She earned the nickname "The Rosa Parks of Architecture" from Author Anna Lewis for her major accomplishments as a black woman in a male dominanted field and continued to be a voice for women who were likely to face discrimination in certain careers.Norma Merrick Sklarek was born on April 15, 1926 in Harlem, New York.