History of African Americans in Texas facts for kids
  |
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 3,936,669 (2018) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Greater Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area, Greater San Antonio | |
| Languages | |
| Texan English, Southern American English, African-American Vernacular English | |
| Religion | |
| Black Protestant | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Black Southerners |
African American Texans or Black Texans are people living in Texas who have African family roots. They have created a special identity in Texas. For many years, they faced unfair treatment. The first person of African heritage to arrive in Texas was Estevanico in 1528.
The very first Black residents in Texas were Afro-Mexican slaves. They were brought by the Spanish.
A Look at History
The first Africans in Texas were Afro-Mexicans. This was when Texas was still a part of Mexico. African slaves arrived in 1528 in Spanish Texas. By 1792, there were 34 Black people and 414 people of mixed heritage in Spanish Texas. When Anglo white settlers moved into Mexican Texas in the 1820s, the number of slaves grew a lot.
African Americans are a large minority group in Texas. Their share of the population became smaller after the early 1900s. This was because many left the state during the Great Migration. In 2015, Black people made up 11.5 percent of the population. By 2018, about 3.9 million Black people lived in Texas. Most Black and African American people in Texas live in the big cities. These include Greater Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio.
Where People Live
Many African Americans in Texas remained enslaved until after the U.S. Civil War ended. There was not much Union Army activity in Texas. This made it hard for enslaved people to join the Northern Army. Some escaped to areas where the Union Army was. The news of freedom was delayed until June 19, 1865. On this day, officials announced that slavery was officially over. This day was first celebrated in Texas. In 2021, it became a national holiday called Juneteenth.
During the first half of the 1900s, tens of thousands of African Americans left Texas. This was part of the Great Migration. They looked for jobs and better chances elsewhere. In 2010, African Americans made up 11.9% of Texas's population. The effects of slavery can still be seen in where people live today. The eastern part of the state, where cotton farms used many slaves, has a very large number of African Americans.
Texas has one of the largest African American populations in the country. They live mostly in northern, eastern, and east-central Texas. They are also found in the Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio big city areas. African Americans make up 24 percent of both Dallas and Houston. They are 19% of Fort Worth, 8.1% of Austin, and 7.5% of San Antonio.
The African American population in Texas is growing. This is due to the New Great Migration. Many African American college graduates have moved to Texas for work recently. This is part of the New Great Migration.
A 2014 study by the University of Texas at Austin found something interesting. Austin was the only U.S. city growing fast but losing African Americans. This was because people were moving to the suburbs and neighborhoods were changing.
In 2018, African Americans had the second highest population growth in Texas since 2010. Harris County had the biggest part of this growth. Houston, the largest city in Harris County, is now known as a major center for African-American political power, education, money, and culture. Some call it the next "Black Mecca."
There is also a Black Louisiana Creole community in Texas.
Colleges and Universities
There are nine historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in Texas. These schools were created to educate Black students. Texas Southern University is the largest. Prairie View A&M University is the second largest. These two schools help many African Americans get college degrees each year. They are also big sports rivals in the SWAC. St. Philip's College is a public community college in San Antonio. It is the westernmost HBCU in the United States.
Famous Black Texans
