Project Update 2

 

This week we went back to the Robert Weaver neighborhood. We were able to start and finish filming for our documentary. The next step in our project process is to begin editing in order to put together the final documentary for public viewing. We were able to get some really good footage of Mrs. Ross who had so many interesting stories since she's lived in the same house for 46 years! We also were able to get footage from Mr. Owens and Mrs. Renteria. Although we weren't able to speak to the renters as we originally wanted to, (they didn't want to be involved) we're really excited about the footage we did get.  I've really enjoyed getting to know the residents and listening to what they had to say. I think overall our project has gone really well so far and will continue to do so.

"I think documentaries are the greatest way to educate a generation that doesn't often look back to learn anything about the history that provided a safe heaven for so many of us today."

-Steven Spielberg

Project Update 1

 
Last week (10/13), my group and I met at Robert Weaver Neighborhood to begin the documentary but the residents didn't feel comfortable since they had not been informed of our arrival. We are set to start filming our documentary this afternoon. Hopefully we get some good stories from the residents. We hoping to address some of the questions surrounding what they know about East Austin, how did they get one of the homes in this neighborhood, and what they remember about the neighborhood.

blog 5

The most interesting thing I learned from the book, Images of America Austin's Rosewood Neighborhood, was the history of Huston Tillotson neighborhood. Often times we, as longhorns, can forget about the other universities that are here in Austin. Although I knew that HT was a historically black college or university (HBCU), I didn't know truly of the university's history and impact on East Austin. Often times instead of focusing on celebrating each others educational accomplishments there has been a controversy within the black community surrounding PWI vs HBCU. The book highlights the education of blacks in East Austin from high school and lower.

Blog Post 4

I tried to Google gentrification in Beaumont, Texas (my hometown) but the results mostly talked about gentrification in East Austin and some parts of Houston. I haven't heard of anyone really discussing gentrification in Beaumont so I called my dad and he explained that we haven't really had anything like Austin's gentrification. He also told me that Beaumont really struggled in the 80s and 90s when blacks would buy homes in neighborhoods were there were mostly white people and they called it "white flight" (the opposite of what's happening in Austin). The white people would move to surrounding cities such as Lumberton and Vidor (now known to be pretty discriminatory towards minorities). I think Austin's gentrification is unique because it's happening at such a fast rate and it's happening all over East Austin. During the van tour I was able to visually see it house by house neighborhood. I think the tour helped to really show what was happening and how it was affecting homes in the area (McMansions driving up property taxes).

Perseverance Despite Redlining

Everything I read on East Austin was very surprising. Not being from Austin, I didn’t know the depth of Austin’s history of racism and segregation. I loved how much history that the two articles provided. The two readings provided us with different perspectives of East Austin. “The Empty Stair The Lost History of East Austin” gave us the history beginning from when the lots were sold to African Americans in 1869. “East Austin: The Neighborhood” gave us a perspective from more recent years, 2000. It explained gentrification and other key issues that are pivotal in the city’s move forward. These readings in comparison were completely different from mostly everything that I have been told about East Austin. I wish everyone knew of the rich history East Austin holds. If everyone knew, I think things would be different. Looking back on my years at UT, I have heard the black community talk about “saving” East Austin. I always thought it was solely because of gentrification but preserving the history is important as well. I found it very empowering that when stripped of everything after redlining we could create our own neighborhoods and provide services for one another.  

 

Victory Grill, which is preserved in East Austin.

Global Project Development

What are some of the similarities and differences in experiences of racism globally? In general, describe the “exploiter and exploited” relationship.  Discuss specific parallels between U.S., France, Brazil and South Africa. 

Globally there are similarities about the history and continuation of racism. The United States, Brazil, France and South Africa all share the common thread of institutionalized oppression.  Capitalism is what brought many of these countries to dehumanize people and make them “property.” The United States has had a history of oppression to minority groups since the age of slavery. In the 1880s the United States had a system much like South Africa’s apartheid, deemed legal segregation. Meanwhile, whites in France gained their wealth by exploitation of Americans of color. The exploitation of Africa brought wealth to the French. Here, French colonialism differed from colonialism by Americans. The French assimilated the people into the French empire but made them hold an inferior position. The U.S and France, hold a lot of similarities between their histories but I believe that the U.S.’s treatment of minority groups (Africans Americans) was much worse. On the other hand, Brazil’s treatment of Afro-Brazilians has undoubtedly been intense and continues present day.

How has racism influenced the history of housing and urban development in the United States?

Because of the unfair treatment of African Americans it has been a continued struggle for fair housing in the United States. Racism, segregation and general negative feelings of African Americans have been a barrier for equal housing. Often, African Americans couldn’t find quality housing. Until 1965 when the Housing and Urban Development Act was signed, African Americans and other minorities suffered. I believe that the Housing and Urban Development Act still doesn’t give people of color equal housing.

Tatum’s article discusses three barriers to talking about issues of race and racism with students in a classroom setting.  What are these?

• individual’s concept of identity
• dominant group does not conscious about their authorities and privileges
• many people are both dominant and subordinate

Finally, following Peggy McIntosh’s format, list a few of your privileges and your overall reaction to this article.

Forever whites have been the dominant group while others have been subjected to the title of "less than," subordinate or disadvantaged. Unfortunately, concentrating so much on their flaws I failed to realize my own privilege. I may not have the "privilege" of being white but I do have many other privileges that some do not.  
I am privileged…

• to attend The University of Texas. Many African Americans weren’t allowed this opportunity until 1950
• to have grown up in a 2 parent, middle-class family
• to be able to fully function, using all of my extremities
• to be a part of a ethnicity so rich in culture

Service Learning: Destination East ATX

Hello! My name Ashley and I’m a third year Human Development Family Sciences/Pre-Med major. I’ve always been interested in what makes successful communities and how we can develop that model into one for all global/local communities. As an African American, I am specifically interested in understanding the cause of majority minority populations residing in underdeveloped communities where food deserts, homelessness, poor health care and lack of social services are typical. Most people would classify an area with those qualities as “the hood.”  The question of why areas exhibiting those qualities still exist in a country where wealth and money is plentiful still persists. Wealth inequality in the United States is a cycle that endures, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

The person I interviewed said from what they knew about East Austin was that "back in the 80s it used to be a bad side of town. Now, it’s being built up and many of the old residents are moving out of the area because they have too. The area may be too expensive for that person or because gentrification is driving them out."  From my own research I found that East Austin is now being classified as one of the “hippest hipster neighborhoods” in the country. This newly awarded title for the community comes long after a history of segregation a home to minority populations. East Austin yesterday was once a home for many in an era where being “given” a specific area to inhabit was common. East Austin was and still is split by I-35. An article by Luke Winkle from Vice, simply put that Austin was meant to be segregated (describing the I-35 boundary strategically built to separate the city).  East Austin was home to many but now it is actually losing African Americans and people of color due to gentrification. East Austin is now in the process of “re-branding itself” moving most if not all African Americans and other minorities out to make room for tech companies, apartments, cafes and art studios. It’s sad to see people lose what little they did have to a city who wants to be “hip.”