Milestones Vol. 17, No. 1 (Fall 2019)Download PDF Letter from the Editor2Afro-Americans for Black Liberation and the Fight for Civil Rights at the University of Houston By Robinson Block7Honoring the UH African American Studies Program’s 50th AnniversaryBy James L. Conyers12The Houston Manned Spacecraft Center: The Right Place with the Right StuffBy Calvin D. Blair19Making a Miracle – The Story […]
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Our Spring Issue Is Here!
In conversation and in historical research “place” takes on a variety of meanings. It can represent a physical location, a space within the community, a position in society, or our diverse identities. Exploring Houston history is more than just looking at our location; we consider all the things that make up our environment, from the […]
Italians Plant Roots in Houston
Houston, Texas is widely regarded as a city built by immigrants, one whose population is racing towards becoming the most diverse in the nation. People most commonly think of Houston’s immigrant population as coming from Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East in the present day or from Germany in past generations. But if we […]
De-Ro-Loc: Houston’s Forgotten Festival
Highlighting the service and economic contributions of Houston’s African American community, the De-Ro-Loc Carnival was a direct response to Houston’s No-Tsu-Oh, which excluded African Americans from participation.
Brownwood: From Neighborhood to Nature Center
With hurricanes regularly striking the Texas Gulf Coast, experiencing multiple hurricanes and tropical storms in one’s lifetime has become a rite of passage and a life marker for coastal residents. Even though Texans know how to prepare for these events, each storm has a unique trajectory and damage path, as Hurricane Harvey demonstrated in August […]
Reverend James Novarro and La Marcha
Baptist minister James L. Novarro and fellow activists left Houston in the sweltering Texas heat in July of 1966, traveling several hours to Rio Grande City in Starr County, where they marched in soldarity with local farmworkers seeking a fair wage. These laborers galvanized national attention when they organized a strike followed by a march, […]
Houston Area Rainbow Collective History Community-led Archives
Just over a decade ago Houston Public Library’s Jo Collier brought together a group of local lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community historians,archivists, and scholars as part of the library’s LGBT speaker series. Recognizing commonalities and opportunities in their diverse organizations and programs, the group formed Houston Area Rainbow Collective History (ARCH) as a […]
El Club Cultural Recreativo México Bello
Founded in 1924, El Club Cultural Recreativo México Bello became a model for many local Mexican American organizations. Still operating today, it reached success and notoriety among Houstonians by creating a familiar environment for Mexican immigrants–a home away from home–and introducing Mexican culture to non-Mexicans. In the process, it made a lasting imprint on Houston’s […]
Yolanda Black Navarro: East End Reina
by Denise Gomez A small red building stands out on Navigation Boulevard, luring customers inside with the mouthwatering scent of freshly cooked tortillas. Upon entering, the restaurant’s loyal customers see red and white walls decorated with honors and recognitions, one of Houston’s best menus, and, usually, a line. The family-owned restaurant Villa Arcos was […]
Gracie Saenz’s Life of Public Service
Although Houston is celebrated as one of the nation’s most diverse cities, it was largely segregated with little intersection across race and ethnicity into the mid-twentieth century. Mexicans and Mexican Americans settled initially in Second Ward, but, as their numbers grew, they moved into First, Sixth, and parts of Fifth Ward, as well as Magnolia […]