After the founding of Austin as the capitol of the Republic of Texas, many settlers made their way to the new colony. Among these was Alexander Murchison, who reached Austin with his family on June 16, 1839. He brought with him Mahala, a ten-year-old black girl who served as the maid of Mrs. Murchison. One of a few black Austinites, Mahala married and had six children. The number of enslaved blacks increased when the Barton family came to Austin, bringing with them 25 to 30 slaves and settling on the land around what is now known as Barton Springs.

After the emancipation of enslaved blacks in Texas on the 19th of June 1865, black Austinites began to organize churches for worship, to construct schools for study and to purchase land for farming. Freedmen's communities sprung up on the periphery of the city limits. Communities such as Wheatville, East and South Austin became viable and self-sustained centers of activity. Charles Clark, a former slave, purchased two acres of land in the area that is known today as Clarksville in 1881. Freedmen town residents forged close communities bent on survival and reuniting families that had been separated by slavery.

Many black Austinites were actively involved in the social, educational and economic, progress of the race. Harry Hawkins was one of the most prominent black Austinites during the Reconstruction era. He was the first black barber in Austin and ran a barbershop for white people. Shoemaker Henry Green Madison of Austin served as alderman in 1872 and policeman in the1880s. W.H. Holland was a post-Reconstruction legislator who authored the bill that established Alta Vista Agricultural College (now Prairie View A.M. University) in 1876, and the bill that created the Texas Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Institute for Colored Youths in Austin in 1887.

One of the most influential 19th century blacks in Austin and in the state was Rev. Jacob Fontaine (1808-1898). Fontaine was an outstanding civic leader who published The Gold Dollar, one of the first African American newspapers in Texas. He successfully campaigned to have the University of Texas located in Austin and founded the St. John Regular Missionary Baptist Association in 1867 and at least seven churches. Rev. Fontaine owned several businesses, including a grocery store in Wheatville. He was the first moderator of the St. John Encampment, an annual event that featured preaching and singing with participation from black Baptist churches from around Texas.
Black Austinites were creative participants in the process to acquire an education for themselves and their children after emancipation. While local whites debated the question of public free schools, blacks had already erected a building in which to teach their children in 1869. By the 1879-80 school year, there were five free schools established for black children. Some of the early public free schools were located at Wheatville, the Metropolitan A.M.E. Church, the Third Baptist Church, and Mason Town. A Miss Evans and Amanda Robinson ran private schools established in 1867 and 1869, respectively.

School systems that provided secondary education for blacks were almost non-existent in the late 19th century. However, a high school was organized in the same building with the elementary grades in 1889. Professor L.C. Anderson became the first principal and the high school was renamed for him in 1938. The old Bickler School buildings were moved to East Eleventh Street and the Gregory School was formed there in 1894.

Black Austinites could select from two institutions of higher learning. Tillotson College was chartered in 1877 and opened in 1881. Funded by the American Missionary Association, Tillotson provided elementary, secondary and college training for blacks in Austin. The Freedmen’s Aid Society established Samuel Huston College in 1900.

Among the businesses that prospered during these years were the J.J. Jennings Drug Store, the Grand Central Hotel Building and Barber Shop, E.H. Carrington's Grocery Store, and the Undertaking Parlor of William Tears, Sr. The first black physician was J.H. Stevens, MD. and attorney J.F. Dawkins formed part of the thriving business and professional community.

Each year black communities around Austin commemorated Juneteenth (June 19th), the day that Texas slaves heard that they were free. Thousands turned out to take part in festivities that included picnics, contests, dances, and parades with floats and a "goddess of liberty." The celebrations were held in several places around Austin, however the Emancipation Park location in East Austin was one of the largest.

Indeed, the precedent set by the past was an inspiration to later generations. Black Austinites have continued to contribute to all areas of community life.

Article contributed by  The Austin History Center