Black History, Every Day, Everywhere

Dear Friend,

This week marks the beginning of Black History Month. This is a celebration of the rich history of the Black community in our country, but also a time to think about our vision for the future. A future in which the Black community enjoys full equity of opportunity, health, wealth, and justice in this country.

During February, Precinct One will celebrate Black History Month by honoring figures who defied the odds and those presently shattering barriers. We will highlight places that have strengthened our community for generations and continue to do so today. We are honored to celebrate the local Black community and its contributions to the founding framework and progress of our area and nation as a whole.

We are surrounded by Black history every day, and the work we do today is only possible because of the sacrifices and perseverance of those who came before us. Houston is home to Freedmen’s Town, where former enslaved people from Texas and Louisiana started their lives after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863 and once news reached slaves in Galveston in 1865. Independence Heights, the first black city in Texas, was founded in 1915 by Black families who settled in the area, which is now part of Houston city limits.

This month, we will highlight individuals and history-making places on our social media pages and through our Precinct One podcast One for All, so be on the lookout for updates throughout the month.

Yet as we celebrate figures who defied the odds, we cannot and should not forget those we have lost to racial injustice in this country. We cannot and will not forget George Floyd. We cannot and will not forget Breonna Taylor.

In honor of George Floyd’s life, a Black Lives Matter mural will be unveiled tomorrow, February 6 in Third Ward in front of Floyd’s alma mater, Jack Yates High School. This mural will continue an important conversation about the national crisis of Black people dying at the hand of law enforcement. The mural is symbolic but we will also put action behind the symbolism and keep pushing to end the use of mass incarceration as our way to address mental illness, substance use, and poverty.The best way to honor the history and legacy of Black people in our country is by implementing long-overdue changes to our policies, laws, and systems that continue to discriminate against and oppress the Black community today.

During Black History Month, we will redouble our efforts to advance racial justice, economic justice, environmental justice, and criminal justice in order to move closer to our vision of an equitable and just Harris County where all Black people can thrive.