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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
“You never forget the Bracero experience,” former bracero Aurelio Marin commented, perfectly summarizing the triumphs, tribulations, and turbulence of America’s highly-controversial and highly-impactful Mexican Farm Labor Program Program, commonly known as the Bracero Program, which started in 1942 to supply able-bodied Mexican laborers to U.S. industries suffering shortages at the outset of World War II. […]
Mujeres Unidas, Taking the Initiative: The First Decade of Hispanic Women in Leadership By Christian Kelleher On March 11-13, 1988, about 200 women attended the YWCA Hispanic Women’s Leadership in Houston Texas, “Celebrating Excellence.” It had been ten years since the last of such conference. Soon after, twenty of those women, inspired by their experience […]
By Jason W. Barrett, Douglas K. Boyd, and Louis F. Aulbach Houston is a dynamic city with an amazing history. The stories written about its past, however, generally focus on the important people and big events that transformed the wilderness along Buffalo Bayou into a modern metropolis. The Allen brothers, steamship and railroad commerce, […]
Across Houston thousands of families live in substandard housing, for many of them the dream of owning a home is not something attainable. Habitat for Humanity allows Houstonians in such conditions the opportunity of being home owners. This article highlights that process and gives veritable stories of Habit home recipients.
Houston’s air pollution has been an issue that has plagued our city for decades. Fast economic and demographic growth have all contributed to the problem. This article covers Debbie Z. Harwell’s interview with Air Alliance Houston’s executive director Bakeyah Nelson. She explains how Air Alliance works to better the air quality in Houston communities.
By Aric Richardson An often overlooked and swiftly fading part of our regional culture is the Houston bookstore. In the 1860s early bookshops in Houston were not only purveyors of books, but were also the main source of printing, news delivery, and music. But what has happened to the bookselling industry between then and […]
Download the full pdf. Vol. 15, No. 1 (Fall 2017) Letter from the Editor by Debbie Z. Harwell 2 Seeing Frost Town from the bottom up: Using Archeology and Archives to Reconstruct a Forgotten Houston Neighborhood By Jason W. Barrett, Douglas K. Boyd, and Louis F. Aulbach 8 The 1947 Texas City Disaster: Changing Lives […]
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