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.
Publications
Historic publications such as Freedom’s Journal “were published in the North and then distributed, often covertly, to African Americans throughout the country.” If you are interested in reading these historic titles, the Portal to Texas History has a collection of African American newspapers. “The dates of the newspapers in the collection range from 1859 to 1928, with titles peaking during the 1900s.”
Unfortunately, many Black newspapers that began publishing in the 20th century have since gone out of business. However, with the rise of the internet, Black publications have begun publishing on websites such as Black Voice News, TheGrio, The Root, Black Voices, and for Houston specific news we have the Defender.
Cultural Centers
The Houston Museum of African American Culture, established in 1999, is one example of a cultural center that has opened to “preserve the richness of Houston’s African American history” and “to promote the vibrancy of African and African American culture and art forms”. According to their website, general admission is free, and they are open Thursday-Saturday from 11am-6pm. The African American Library at the Gregory School is another example of a cultural center here in Houston. The African American Library is an archival branch of the Houston Public Library that is “dedicated to preserving the origins of Freedmen’s Town and the fourth ward in downtown Houston.” This library features “galleries, an oral history recording room, and reading rooms.”
Historically, cultural centers such as those listed above have “worked to support the intellectual development of communities to collect and preserve Black stories, sponsor Black history and literature events, and were active in the quest for civil, social, and human rights.”
Nursing Schools, Hospitals, and Clinics
Riverside General Hospital in Houston was once the only hospital that served Black individuals within the city. It has since been closed down. According to recent reports, it is slated to be refurbished and reopened as a “public healthcare hub while preserving much of its past.” Spaces like this were created in order for “Black people to get quality health care, which they often did (and do not) receive at mainstream medical institutions.”
Education
“Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), were developed by Northern white philanthropists, but they emerged as a space for the formation of activists, artists, business owners, educators, etc. and their continued operation have stood as testament to Black investment and creative thinking in the face of the changing landscape of higher education.” Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M University here in Houston are two of the 107 colleges in the United States that are identified by the US Department of Education as HBCUs. Alumni of Texas Southern University include U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan and U.S. Congressman George “Mickey” Leland. Further proving ASALH’s statement that “students at HBCUs were at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement, Black Power Movements, and social justice movements from the nineteenth to twenty-first centuries.”
Sports
Wikimedia Commons.
“Sports are a world pastime, and it both brings people together and separates them.” Simone Biles, the “most decorated American female gymnast in World Championships history”, is only one example of an athlete that was raised in Houston. She regularly speaks on the importance of little girls seeing “someone like them” in a sport that is largely dominated by white individuals. She along with many other Black athletes have “used their public forum to bring awareness to issues that affect society as they resisted the idea that they cannot or should not speak about political, cultural, or social issues."
Politics
“Historically and today in the 21st century, Black people have worked the political angle to seek their rightful space in the country.” Many of Houston’s current political representatives are working now to continue to provide equal space in this county for their minority citizens. For example, Congressman Al Green has introduced a Bill in the House of Representatives titled the “Housing Fairness Act of 2023” which seeks to “detect and document differences in the treatment of persons seeking to rent or purchase housing…..and measure patterns of adverse treatment because of the race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability status, or national origin of a renter, home buyer or bower; and measure the prevalence of such discriminatory practices across the housing and mortgage lending markets as a whole.”
We have continued to see the making of history here in Houston recently at the Harris County Attorney’s office. In 2021, Christian D. Menefee became the first African American to serve as Harris County Attorney. He is another great example of someone who is trying to assist the minority communities of Harris County. For example, he recently joined “40 other local governments in 23 states to file an amicus brief in Biden v. Nebraska asking the Supreme Court of the United States to undo a lower court’s order halting the administration’s plan for student loan cancellation.” In an interview with the Defender, Mr. Menefee states: “We see that student loan debt can become crippling and it disproportionately impacts Black folks. So, for me, this is about allowing people fair access to generational wealth. This is about allowing people fair access to the American dream.”
Black Americans have made strides in order to create lasting change both locally here in Houston and on a national scale. Throughout the month of February we will continue to highlight Black History Month and the voices that have historically and continue today to pave the way for Black Americans.