National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15th to October 15th.
Read moreBlack History Month 2023
February is National Black History Month, and this year's theme, as chosen by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASLAH), is "Black Resistance." The theme highlights the efforts "to advocate for a dignified self-determined life in a just democratic society." In addition, during this month, "we celebrate the legacy of Black Americans whose power to lead, to overcome, and to expand the meaning and practice of American democracy has helped our Nation become a more fair and just society."
This blog post highlights actions that Black Americans have made in order to create lasting change in areas like publications, cultural centers, hospitals, education, sports, and politics here in Houston.
Read moreBlack Saddle Clubs and the Legacy of African American Cowboys
It’s rodeo season here in Houston! The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo begins tomorrow, March 1, and boasts the largest livestock exhibition and rodeo in the world. Rodeo performances have been popular since the late 19th century, and most are familiar with the events that comprise professional rodeos, such as team roping, steer wrestling, and bull riding; however, many rodeo-goers may be unfamiliar with the key role that Black and African Americans have played in the development of the all-American sport.
Read moreSeminole Freedmen and Black Native Citizenship
The widespread recognition of Native Americans’ participation in and profit from the institution of slavery is relatively new. More attention has been focused on the issue with recent re-evaluations of the United States’ history of racism, and it remains a complex issue for many Americans who identify as both Black and Native. This history of enslavement of African Americans and people of African descent by Native Americans results in bureaucratic, political, and social challenges for descendants of those enslaved, such as the Seminole Freedmen, or Black Seminoles.
Read moreIf You Preserve It, They Will Come: Exploring “The Portal to Texas History”
Launched in 2004, “The Portal to Texas History is a gateway to rare, historical, and primary source materials from or about Texas.” This blog post explores the website’s contents and special programs related to The Portal, including the Texas Digital Newspaper Program, the Rescuing Texas History Program, and Resources4Educators.
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