African Americans have been part of the Texas landscape for as long as Europeans, spanning five
centuries. Along with the rest of the nation, the African American/Black population of Texas is becoming more and more diverse. As the ebb and flow of Black migration continues it is likely that more Blacks will continue to call Texas home and that Texas will continue to grow in importance as an epicenter for Black community and advancement.
In this interview series, TPPF’s Dr. Richard Johnson examines the history of Black Texans and the policies the state can pursue to improve educational and economic opportunities for the African American community.
This first episode with Texas Southern University’s Dr. Michael O. Adams looks back on the experience of Black Texans from slavery to the Civil Rights Era to the modern day.