The Rainbow Theatre
The Rainbow Theatre was once a popular theater located in Houston’s Freedmen’s Town. At the time, Houston was heavily segregated…
Business Directory
Black History
Uncovering Houston
TSU student protest @ the Harris County Courthouse
In April of 1967, tensions were brewing on the Texas Southern University (TSU) campus due to increasing racially-motivated clashes between…
Snapshots
Fifth Ward row houses
I have not yet been able to figure out with 100% certainty which Fifth Ward street this is. I would…
Snapshots
Barbara Jordan playing a guitar
Don’t mind me – I’m just blessing your screen with a photo of legendary Congresswoman (educator, lawyer, trailblazer), Barbara Jordan,…
Business Directory
Abe and Pappy’s Ballroom
Abe and Pappy’s was a local nightclub known for its late-night shows heavily featuring big bands and dancers. A joint…
Houston's Freedmen
Mary Armstrong: A Freedwoman
Mary Armstrong, a formerly enslaved woman, was interviewed by the Works Projects Administration (WPA) at her Houston residence on August…
Houston's Freedmen
Sarah Ford: A Freedwoman
Preface This post is the first of a new category, “70 Years of Freedom,” which will consist of the first-hand…
Byrd Watching
Frenchtown: Where the gumbo was hot and the accents were thick
Frenchtown Origins On November 7, 1947, Sigman Byrd took his readers on a stroll to Frenchtown, a Creole-French neighborhood to…
Uncovering Houston
Elbert Terry: The Sunnyside American Dream
The only time Houston’s historic neighborhood of Sunnyside comes up in conversation nowadays is if the topic of discussion is…
Uncovering Houston
A Celebration of Freedom on Lyons Avenue
I came across some wonderful photos of a Juneteenth parade in Houston that were undated and lacking locations. Considering this…