History of East Austin (Blog # 3)

History of East Austin

Most of the information that I read was not particularly new to me.  Some of the statistics and specific facts were startling but the concept of gentrification in East Austin is not new at all.  I regularly attend Marshall’s barbershop and Greater Mount Zion Church which are two establishments that are in the center of East Austin.  Over the last 4 years, my friends and I would be in awe at the new condos and buildings being erected in the area.  During this time, we saw many black owned businesses torn down and quickly replaced with expensive development plans.  I also noticed the demographic start to shift.  I started to see more and more white Americans in the area, which is not a bad thing initially.  Unfortunately, an influx of white Americans in the area means the driving out of lower-income minorities.  It’s a sad reality.  It’s also sad that these people will never understand the history of the area.  The history of East Austin was the most surprising information for me.

I always knew that East Austin had a rich and vibrant black culture and history, but I never took the time to research the area.  I’m glad that “The Empty Stairs” article was able to shed some insight on some of the key people who played an integral part in East Austin’s history.  I was surprised that Perry C. Rhambo, J. Mason Brewer, Dr. Everret Givens, and many other black people were able to achieve academic success, despite the many obstacles and hurdles in their way, and use their skills to help their community.  I cannot imagine what it must have been like growing up during that time with the whole world trying to stop your advancement.  East Austin was also home to some of the great black intellectuals at Huston Tillotson University.  East Austin, a place initially intended to isolate black people from “modern” society, became historic landmark for the progression of black people in our country.