HOUSTON BEYOND THE BAYOU: BLACK COMMUNITIES AND THEIR STORIES

Credit Hours: 3 · Undergraduate Lower-Level

THIS IS A SPECIAL TOPICS COURSE This course explores the history and lived experiences of Black communities in Houston from Reconstruction to the present. Moving beyond traditional narratives, we will uncover the stories of resilience, self-determination, and cultural innovation that shaped Houston’s Black neighborhoods, churches, cemeteries, schools, and civic institutions. Through archival research, oral histories, field visits, and digital storytelling, students will examine how Black Houstonians built community, resisted marginalization, and contributed to the city’s growth. Emphasis will be placed on connecting past struggles and triumphs to contemporary issues of identity, memory, and preservation. By the end of the course, students will not only learn Houston’s layered Black history but also contribute to its ongoing story through collaborative projects.