Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    African Americans of Houston
    African Americans of Houston
    African Americans of Houston
    Ebook165 pages51 minutes

    African Americans of Houston

    By Ronald E. Goodwin

    4/5

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Texas is a Southern state, and in many ways, Houston is a typical Southern city. While Houston did not experience the types or degrees of racial violence found in other Southern cities during the Jim Crow era, black Houstonians nonetheless found themselves often relegated to the margins of society. For decades there were two distinct Houstons: one white and the other black. However, Houston s black community created businesses that flourished and schools that educated children and developed a culture that celebrated the accomplishments of their parents while eagerly anticipating the accomplishments of future generations. Images of America: African Americans of Houston captures the many facets of black Houston. From churches to nightclubs; city parks to city hall; and political giants Barbara Jordan, Mickey Leland, and Sheila Jackson Lee to the driving beats of Archie Bell and the Drells, the Ghetto Boys, and Beyonc , black Houston is alive with a determination that past injustices will never dampen the future opportunities for greatness.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArcadia Publishing
    Release dateJul 29, 2013
    ISBN9781439643716
    African Americans of Houston
    Author

    Ronald E. Goodwin

    Author Ronald E. Goodwin completed his undergraduate degree from Texas Lutheran University while serving on active duty in the US Air Force. Goodwin�s current research interests include urban history, the impacts of planning decisions on neighborhood development, and the historical development of Texas�s black community.

    Related to African Americans of Houston

    Related ebooks

    Ethnic Studies For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    Related categories

    Reviews for African Americans of Houston

    4/5

    1 rating0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      African Americans of Houston - Ronald E. Goodwin

      noted.

      INTRODUCTION

      The experiences of Houston’s African American community mirror those of the larger black community found throughout the United States. Many blacks that initially settled in Houston were former slaves who found themselves restricted to certain areas of town. Houston’s Freedman’s Town was one of those areas, and it remains a reminder of the violence and segregation that once restricted the mobility and livelihoods of the city’s black populace. The presence of black regiments and the ensuing riots in 1917 illustrated that Jim Crow was alive and well and that the lives of blacks were worth significantly less than those of whites. Jim Crow also encouraged state officials to create Texas Southern University (TSU) with the hope of avoiding the integration of the flagship institution—the University of Texas at Austin. Nonetheless, the Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board of Education lit the flame of civil rights throughout the country, and it burned in Houston as well. However, hoping to avoid destruction and chaos of other Southern cities, leaders integrated public places without fanfare or hysteria after coordinating with officials at Texas Southern University.

      Today, many in Houston’s black community have little understanding of the trials and tribulations of those who went before us. While the careers of Barbara Jordan and Mickey Leland receive accolades and recognition—and justifiably so—lesser-known individuals paved the way for today’s generation of scholars and athletes. How many of Houston’s black schoolchildren know of Heman Sweatt? These stories need to be told. These pioneers are our family; they are our aunts, uncles, Nanas, and Big Pappas. They prayed for a world where their children could live without fear, and those prayers live on today in each member of Houston’s black community. It is time we honor them by looking at their contribution to today’s fourth largest city in America.

      One

      HOUSTON’S PUBLIC SPACES

      In the years following the Civil War, cotton remained a staple of Texas’s and the South’s economy. Throughout the Houston region, black labor continued to produce agricultural products into the 20th century. As a port city, hundreds of bales of cotton were processed through Houston, destined for locations throughout the country.

      The Ku Klux Klan played a significant role in suppressing the rights of blacks throughout the South during the last quarter of the 19th century. While the organization was subdued during the Progressive Era, the Klan returned in the post–World War I years in demonstrations throughout the country. In Texas, the Klan made their presence known, effectively suppressing the rights of the city’s black population.

      At the turn of the century, Houston’s streets were occupied by cars, streetcars, and horses. As public spaces, streets were often places to conduct business and socialize. However, in a segregated environment, Jim Crow customs dictated how blacks and whites interacted in public spaces. Any violation of Jim Crow rules could result in dire consequences for the offender.

      In the early 20th century, Houston’s downtown skyline was already identifiable as scores of buildings were rising from the ground. Even though the city was segregated, racism was not overtly identified with its character. However, the residential areas, usually hidden from public view, were bastions of racism, as in other Southern cities. This street scene illustrates the modern character of 1920s Houston as buses and cars dominate the streets. The new transportation technologies moved people around the city, but even these conveyances were segregated by race, severely limiting access to the black population. Unfortunately, these segregated conveyances were often dilapidated and seldom complied with the essence of separate but equal. As a result, Houston’s black population moved around the city in vehicles that were uncomfortable and on schedules that were lesser than those provided the city’s white commuters.

      Pictured here is the stage of the Houston’s Majestic Theatre. Created by famed architect

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1