Preservation of Texas’ historic African-American communities, repositories of black heritage and culture that are increasingly imperiled by natural and economic threats, was the focus of the Feb. 16-17 Texas A&M Center for Heritage Conservation’s 19th Annual Historic Preservation Symposium at Texas A&M University.
“Many historically significant African-American communities are at risk because they are located in areas susceptible to flooding, chronic disinvestment, and gentrification,” said Andrea Roberts, a symposium lecturer and Texas A&M assistant professor of urban planning who is creating a statewide black settlement inventory.
Symposium speakers discussed why preserving these communities requires a “full court press” — an interdisciplinary approach that addresses historic sites and buildings and promotes their sustainable development, equity, and resilience.
None of these issues can be discussed in isolation if African-American communities in Texas are to survive and thrive, said Roberts.
“Speakers also addressed fundamental issues of why we preserve, what we preserve, and the best ways to do that both now and in the future,” said Kevin Glowacki, interim director of the CHC. “The symposium, which showcased several CHC faculty fellows’ research and teaching projects, is the start of a much larger conversation about the entire state’s history and heritage.”
Keynote open to public
The symposium’s keynote address, “African-American History in Texas: Context for Preserving and Conserving Culture and Place,” was presented by Everett Fly, an award-winning, San Antonio-based architect, landscape architect, preservationist, and nationally recognized leader in the drive to preserve the integrity of African-American-associated structures and history.
Presenters discussed events in Houston’s Third Ward, a predominantly African-American community that traces its origins to Houston’s founding in 1836.
Roundtable discussion
The symposium also included “The Brazos Valley Manifesto: What’s Next for Preservation of African-American Places in Texas?” a roundtable discussion moderated by Andrea Roberts and Brent Fortenberry, Texas A&M assistant professor of architecture.