The place can Houstonians go to find out about Black historical past is a related and urgent query. That is very true when realizing that the instructing of Black historical past is underneath assault in Texas and throughout america.
Texas has enacted legal guidelines and insurance policies designed to limit how racism and Black historical past are taught in colleges, together with efforts geared toward banning so-called “crucial race principle” and limiting discussions of slavery and systemic racism.
On the federal stage, comparable strikes have included lowered funding for colleges inaccurately accused of instructing CRT (a topic solely taught in a minority of regulation colleges), banning books by Black authors, and eradicating or modifying historic shows at establishments such because the Smithsonian Nationwide Museum of African American Historical past and Tradition, nationwide parks, and army cemeteries.
But lengthy earlier than Black historical past was formally included in Okay-12 or school curricula, it was being recorded, shared, and taught by communities decided to protect “our story.” Our ancestors made a manner.
This 12 months marks the one hundredth anniversary of Black Historical past Month (initially Negro Historical past Week), based by Carter G. Woodson in 1926, and the fiftieth anniversary of President Gerald Ford’s formal nationwide recognition of Black Historical past Month in 1976. Even earlier than that, formally and self-trained Black students have been documenting Pan-African struggles throughout eras marked by lynchings and sharecropping.
At this time, many Houstonians refuse to let present-day challenges cease them from studying, instructing, and honoring Black historical past. Throughout town, there are a number of areas—formal and casual—the place Black historical past is alive and accessible.
Museums and artwork reveals
Houston-based artist Reginald Adams teaches Black historical past via murals and creative renderings which have gained worldwide consideration. Certainly one of his most notable works is the Juneteenth mural, Absolute Equality, in Galveston.
Reflecting on its which means, Adams mentioned, “For enslaved Blacks in Texas, you couldn’t have instructed them that sooner or later they’d be on the aspect of a wall… It instructed me we have now come a great distance since 1865, and but we have now a lot extra work to be carried out due to the social and racial inequities which are a direct results of institutional slavery.”
Museums additionally present highly effective entry factors. Veteran Donald Sparks recollects discovering the Buffalo Troopers Nationwide Museum in its authentic location within the Third Ward in 1991.
“I’d been within the Military three years however by no means knew the legacy and historical past of Black troops,” Sparks mentioned. “This museum opened my eyes, and I steadfastly discovered extra about our historical past in defending this nation.”
Stacey Allen is all about celebrating Black historical past via the humanities.
“Dance and music have all the time been ancestral types of communication for Black communities,” mentioned Allen, founding father of Nia’s Daughters Motion Collective. “We create alternatives for audiences throughout the Gulf Coast to be taught Black historical past by centering Texas Freedom Colonies, efficiency, schooling, and my youngsters’s ebook D is for Dance: Dancing By the Diaspora as crucial interventions in opposition to erasure.”
This 12 months, Allen’s group is making ready for the 2nd Annual Official Juneteenth Return, a pilgrimage to Galveston rooted in land, reminiscence, and liberation. Allen additionally choreographed Suite Ms. Jewel for Houston Up to date Dance, honoring the life and music of Houston legend Jewel Brown.
“And I’m bringing Houston’s Black historical past to a nationwide stage on the Worldwide Affiliation of Blacks in Dance convention in Atlanta (Feb. 4 – 8),” she added.
Naomi Provider based the Emancipation Historic Path Affiliation for instructing functions.
“Individuals love the way in which we re-enact tales in costume, with music,” mentioned Provider. “We re-live the Underground Railroad, a marriage, or a Pullman Porter.
“We additionally desire motion to lecture, however we do each.”
Group facilities
SHAPE Group Heart has earned the nickname “the United Nations of the Hood” for its wide-ranging programming that serves youth, dad and mom, elders, and activists. The middle spotlights Black historical past year-round, not simply throughout February.
“The very first thing we’re doing resides progressively and positively to maneuver ahead in our wrestle for liberation,” mentioned SHAPE government director and co-founder Deloyd Parker. “However we can not do this except we perceive {that a} individuals with out the data of their previous historical past… is sort of a tree with out roots.”
By after-school applications and weekly elder gatherings, SHAPE creates intergenerational studying areas.
“The elders are serving to the kids to grasp it,” Parker mentioned. “And the kids are greedy it.”
The Freedom Tour
Certainly one of SHAPE’s most impactful efforts is its long-running Freedom Tour. For greater than 30 years, the middle has taken youth on a journey retracing the Civil Rights Motion throughout the South. Individuals journey from Houston to cities equivalent to Jackson, Montgomery, and Selma, strolling throughout the Edmund Pettus Bridge the place Bloody Sunday happened.
“We don’t simply march throughout the bridge,” Parker defined. “We inform our youngsters about what occurred… They have been capable of march within the footsteps of those that got here earlier than them.”
Festivals
Festivals additionally play a key position in instructing Black historical past. Juneteenth celebrations—from Emancipation Park to neighborhood parades—are stuffed with studying moments.
“My household participates in these yearly,” mentioned retired educator Sylvia Bradshaw.
Bradshaw, who additionally attends MLK Day occasions, believes there may be room for deeper schooling.
“There’s little educating occurring about Dr. King past his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech,” she mentioned. “However there was a lot extra to him than that.”
SHAPE’s annual Pan-African Cultural Pageant deliberately broadens the lens.
“Our historical past didn’t begin right here in Babylon, I imply, America,” Parker mentioned. “Our historical past began within the motherland.”
Lessons and subject journeys
For these in search of structured studying, community-based courses and subject journeys provide useful choices. Karen Hickman recommends historical past discussions on the Shrine of the Black Madonna Cultural Heart. Nationwide director Nailah Nelson famous that the Shrine hosts Enter the Black Complete each first and third Saturday, a category analyzing Black historical past and present international realities affecting Black individuals.
Subject journeys additionally go away lasting impressions.
Janey Udoewah Brown recalled visiting the Eldorado Ballroom via the Houston Black Management Institute.
“It showcased the sophistication and success of the Black neighborhood throughout segregation,” she mentioned.
For some, historical past started at house.
“My father was into Black historical past and our roots,” mentioned Vannessa Wade. “I discovered a lot at house.”
Private tales
One typically underappreciated solution to be taught Black historical past is thru private tales. At SHAPE’s Elders Institute of Knowledge, elders—some over 100 years previous—share firsthand accounts.
“They discuss their historical past, their previous, what occurred to them,” Parker mentioned, emphasizing that these tales come straight from those that lived them.
Black bookstores
Black-owned bookstores, too, stay important studying hubs.
“Black historical past is American historical past. Black historical past is world historical past. Earlier than there was a ‘when’ and a ‘the place’, Black individuals have been right here,” shared David Landry, co-owner of CLASS Bookstore. “What higher solution to get it than in a bookstore?”
