You are invited to the Brown Bag Lecture Series

Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 12 noon to 1 p.m.
Texana Room, DeGolyer Library
6404 Hyer (formerly Hilltop) Lane & McFarlin Blvd.

Houston Bound:
Space, Sound, and the Making of a Multiracial City

Tyina Steptoe
Summerlee Fellow for the Study of Texas History

In the decades following World War I, Houston was in the throes of transformation. The city with a predominantly Anglo and African American population grew increasingly diverse, especially due to the steady influx of Mexican Americans and Creoles of color from Louisiana. These groups often moved near Black neighborhoods, which complicated ideas about race and community in the segregated city. This presentation explores migration and demographic change in Houston through the lens of culture. The music that emanated from ballrooms, blues clubs, high school band rooms, and church bazaars altered the shape and sound of historically African American communities like Fifth Ward. Artists such as Lightnin’ Hopkins, Clifton Chenier, Illinois Jacquet, and Rocky Gil & the Bishops demonstrate how the topic of race in Houston evolved into a multiracial, multilingual conversation.

Tyina Steptoe is this year's recipient of the Summerlee Fellowship in Texas History.  A native of Houston, she received her PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  She is currently an assistant professor in the department of American Ethnic Studies at the University of Washington.  During her time at the Clements Center, Tyina will revise her book manuscript for publication.

Image of Illinois Jacquet performing at the Newport Jazz Festival (Newport, RI) on July 3, 1967.