Fronteras: A Black History Of The Alamo City; Texas Freedom Colonies

By Norma Martinez,

Lauren Terrazas

Published February 22, 2019 at 9:07 AM CST

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Students outside St. Philips Normal and Industrial School, 306 Villita St. San Antonio, TX 1898.

The Institute of Texan Cultures

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Students outside St. Philips Normal and Industrial School, 306 Villita St. San Antonio, TX 1898.

The Institute of Texan Cultures

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Loli Ellison, left, and wife in the 1930s Baptist settlement, one of San Antonio's early black settlements.

The Institute of Texan Cultures

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Loli Ellison, left, and wife in the 1930s Baptist settlement, one of San Antonio's early black settlements.

The Institute of Texan Cultures

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Hattie Elam Briscoe and friends. In 1956, Briscoe became the first Black woman to graduate from St. Marys University School of Law, and was the only Black female attorney in Bexar County for the next 27 years.

The Institute of Texan Cultures

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The Institute of Texan Cultures

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Vera Williams Young, owner of Carter-Taylor-Williams Mortuary, interviewed in ‘Walk on the River: A Black History of the Alamo City.’";s:

Jeremy Kyner

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Vera Williams Young, owner of Carter-Taylor-Williams Mortuary, interviewed in ‘Walk on the River: A Black History of the Alamo City.’";s:

Jeremy Kyner

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People attend the 'Walk on the River' premiere on Aug. 17, 2018.

Jeremy Kyner

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People attend the 'Walk on the River' premiere on Aug. 17, 2018.

Jeremy Kyner

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‘Walk on the River: A Black History of the Alamo City’ poster.";s:

Melaneyes Media

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‘Walk on the River: A Black History of the Alamo City’ poster.";s:

Melaneyes Media

On Fronteras:

San Antonio’s African-American history is often overshadowed by those who fought for Texas independence. Aundar Ma’at and Born Logic Allah are working to add to the narrative of the city’s history with their documentary, ‘Walk on the River: A Black History of the Alamo City’ (0:16).
And Texas Public Radio’s Ryan Poppe reports on one professor’s effort to identify and preserve historic black settlements (15:55).

Aundar Ma’at, producer, and Born Logic Allah, co-producer and director, of the documentary, ‘Walk on the River: A Black History of the Alamo City.’

‘Walk On The River’: San Antonio’s African-American History, ‘It’s Written All Over The City’

In the era immediately following the abolition of slavery in Texas and the beginning of Jim Crow, African Americans were deeply caught in the shadow of segregation. They struggled and succeeded in buying land, establishing communities, creating businesses, establishing schools, and becoming a political and social force.

Ma’at, producer, and Allah, co-producer and director, trace back San Antonio’s history to this time and discovered significant contributions African Americans made to the development of the city.

They worked hard to create businesses, open entertainment venues, and educate their children. Phillis Wheatley High School, in particular, helped mold the minds and bodies of young African Americans from across the Alamo City, and they spoke with several individuals who experienced it first-hand.

FRONTERAS EXTRA: San Antonio's African American Legacy

The filmmakers are currently in the midst of a crowdfunding campaign to complete production on a sequel to the film ‘Walk on the River 2.0,’ which will cover San Antonio and Bexar County history dating back to the colonization of the Americas.

Andrea Roberts, professor of urban planning and leader of the Texas Freedom Colonies Project at Texas A&M University.

Texas A&M Professor's Research Highlights Significance Of Texas Freedom Colonies

During the years after the Civil War, African-American communities worked together throughout Southeastern Texas to form what historians call freedom colonies. Texas Public Radio’s Ryan Poppe reports on one professor’s effort to identify and preserve these historic black settlements.

Norma Martinez can be reached at norma@tpr.org and on Twitter @NormDog1 and Lauren Terrazas can be reached at lauren@tpr.org and on Twitter @terrazas_lauren.