CapMetro Honors African American Contribution In East Austin

EAST AUSTIN, TX — Capital Metro officials this weekend unveiled a special bus stop in East Austin that honors the neighborhood's African American legacy.

The honor comes in the form of plaques showcasing more than two dozen historical photos that memorialize the contributions of African Americans in Austin. The photos were secured largely from the Austin History Center.

CapMetro officials were joined by Austin City Council member Ora Houston, members of the East 12th Street Merchants Association, elected officials, representatives of the historically black Huston-Tillotson University and others in unveiling the history-laden bus stop on Saturday. The site of the honor is at 12th and Chicon streets.

Historically — notwithstanding the wave of gentrification that's swept over the neighborhood in the better part of a decade — East Austin is the part of the city largely inhabited by blacks and Hispanics. Yet those demographics didn't form organically, but part of a forced movement sanctioned by city officials in the early part of the 20th century.

The 1928 City of Austin Master Plan forced the relocation of black residents to the segregated east side of the city. Despite the sordid policy that forced the migration, minorities settled into their new neighborhoods with the resilience and determination so characteristic of their culture — a triumph of spirit that can be seen tangibly today in myriad ways: Uniquely spiced meals served restaurants; the range of vibrant colors in artwork dotting the landscape; exuberant community events palpably celebrating cultural roots; emotional interpretations of poets regularly voicing in words the language of the soul at poetry slams; soulful music adding to the rich artistic tapestry of a city nicknaming itself "the live music capital of the world."

Some five generations or so have passed since the forced relocation. Today, East Austin is arguably the most vibrant part of the city, a dynamic largely informed by contributions of the black diaspora. While the struggle continues for a population segments often getting short shrift in terms of municipal attention, the event on Saturday went a long way in reminding of inestimable contributions shaping the legacy of African American residents who have called the city home.

>>> Top photo via New York Public Library Digital Collections depicting by photographer Austin Hansen (1910-1996) depicting servicemen and ladies holding up newspapers with headlines alerting to WWII victory in Japan