“At her kitchen table she pulls out an old map from the Navarro County Historical Society and traces her finger from one town name to the next, including several old black communities. “These communities don’t exist no more,” she says. “Babylon, no more. Bethel, no more. Round Prairie’s about gone. Porter’s Bluff, it’s gone.” From…
Fort Bend County’s little known African American history is in danger of being forgotten. Especially as it relates to struggles around voting rights in areas like Stafford and Fifth Street. The west end of the County commemorates the Terry V. Adams, which ended whites only primaries in Texas. See ceremony below: Terry v. Adams Marker…
As much as I would love to let sleeping dogs lie, I had to post this to reiterate what i see as the significances of the Paula Deen case. This is indeed not a matter of deciding whether what a celebrity says matters or not, or whether we should forgive. This must be lifted from…
This is not just about being insensitive or hurtful. People don;t get fired over hurt feelings in America, especially not hurt “Black” feelings. Black people just aren’t that soft. We can’t afford to be. What we can afford to do is demand a workplace that isn’t hostile to our being treated as more than 3/5…
My husband asked me to accompany him to Philly for work this past week. Though I’m a bit busy, I am so glad I took the time to return to the city I called home for four years. While there, I was able to walk about my old neighborhood, eat at our favorite restaurants, and…
Sandy Spring Residents Fight To Save Homes Montgomery County officials say the road to their homes doesn’t exist, so what have they been using for 100 years? Originally posted on January 21, 2008. Take a look at this summary of the Sandy Spring Farm Road Dispute: … The story is about property owners who, until…
So I had the delightful privilege of riding back from the Guadalupe Mountains with my friend Greg. Besides serving as the National Register Coordinator for the Texas Historical Commission, Greg has a passion for road side art, African American “Green Guides” sites, and just all kinds of cool stuff. The NPS park was celebrating the…
Here’s a great little piece by John Tennison, M.D. on boogie woogie music history, railroads, highways, and Stafford Texas’ barrel house piano great, Robert Shaw. It provides a wonderful explanation for why there should be a historical designation for the corridor. I’ve added a few historical links for those not familiar with the route and…
I hosted a walk and talk through East Austin today in partnership with Jenni Minner President of Mid-Tex Mod and Project Manager of the Austin Historical Survey Wiki. It was also one of hundreds of commemorative Jane Jacobs walks recognizing her contribution to planning, preservation, and all things urban street life held around the country. The…