This article explores the historical conferences and sessions held in Texas, focusing on significant events and discussions related to slavery, emancipation, and African American history within the state. The content is drawn from a conference program highlighting various perspectives and research on these crucial topics.
Plenary Session: Slavery and Emancipation in Texas
The conference commenced with a plenary session that dived into the complex history of slavery and emancipation in Texas. Dr. Daina Ramey Berry, Michael Douglas Dean of Humanities & Fine Arts and Professor of History at UC Santa Barbara, presented “Endurin’ de Freedom War: Slavery and Emancipation in Texas—A Complex History.” This session set the stage for deeper explorations into the nuances of slavery and its lasting impact on the state.
Concurrent Sessions: Land, Law, and Chattel Slavery
Following the plenary session, concurrent sessions provided more focused discussions.
Dawson Family Hall
Facilitated by Dr. Anene Ejikeme, this session included:
- “From Sugar Bowl Slavery to State Prison Farms: Unfree Labor and the Making of a Texas Prison Empire, 1843-1926” presented by Dr. Jermaine Thibodeaux, Assistant Professor of African and African American Studies at the University of Oklahoma. This talk explored the transition from slavery to the prison system and its implications for unfree labor.
- “Axis of Misery, Spaces of Hope: Slavery in Galveston and Beyond” presented by Dr. Robert Shelton, Associate Professor Emeritus at Cleveland State University. This session likely examined the experiences of enslaved people in Galveston and the strategies they employed to find hope amidst adversity.
Memorial Auditorium
Facilitated by Pharaoh Clark, this session featured:
- “Enslaved Cowboys and the Texas Livestock Industry” presented by Ronald W. Davis, II, Curator of American History at the Witte Museum. This presentation likely illuminated the often-overlooked contributions of enslaved individuals to the Texas livestock industry.
- “Securing Slavery in San Antonio” presented by Cristal R. Mendez, Public Historian, Sandra Ogogor, Graduate Student at the San Antonio African American Community Archive & Museum, and Dr. Teresa Van Hoy and St. Mary’s University Students from St. Mary’s University. This collaborative session probably examined the legal and social mechanisms used to maintain slavery in San Antonio.
Concurrent Sessions: Enslaved Experience from Colonial New Spain to the Civil War
These sessions shifted focus to the broader historical context of slavery in Texas.
Dawson Family Hall
Facilitated by Ronald W. Davis, II, this session included:
- “Lost and Nearly Starved: Freedom Seekers and the Texas Landscape” presented by Dr. Mekala Audain, Associate Professor of History at The College of New Jersey. This session probably explored the challenges faced by enslaved people attempting to escape to freedom through the Texas landscape.
- “’Master Jack was sho’ mean to his slaves.'” presented by Dr. Edmund T. Gordon, Founding Former Chair of the African and African Diaspora Studies Department at the University of Texas at Austin. This presentation likely provided personal narratives and accounts of the harsh realities of slavery.
Memorial Auditorium
Facilitated by Mary Margaret McAllen, this session featured:
- “African Slavery in Spanish Texas” presented by Dr. Frank de la Teja, Regents’ Professor Emeritus of History at Texas State University. This presentation likely offered insights into the origins of slavery in Texas during the Spanish colonial period.
- “Native American Slaveholding in Antebellum Texas” presented by Dr. Nakia Parker, Assistant Professor of History at Michigan State University. This session probably explored the complex dynamics of slaveholding within Native American communities in pre-Civil War Texas.
Lunch Session: Reflecting on Slavery through Art
A lunch session titled “Reflecting on Slavery through Art” featured Aaronetta Pierce, Trustee of the Witte Museum; Dr. Kimberlyn Montford, Associate Professor of Music at Trinity University; and Vincent Hardy, Chair of Fine Arts & Kinesiology at St. Philips College. This session offered a unique perspective on slavery, exploring how art can be used to understand and reflect upon this difficult chapter in history.
Session 3: A Force History of Black Resistance
Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson, Michael and Denise Kellen ’68 Associate Professor in the Department of Africana Studies at Wellesley College, presented “We Refuse: A Force History of Black Resistance” This session focused on the active and often overlooked ways in which enslaved people resisted their bondage.
Concurrent Sessions: Building Communities
These sessions explored the resilience and agency of African Americans in building communities both during and after slavery.
Dawson Family Hall
Facilitated by Dr. Michelle Cuellar Everidge, this session included:
- “The Material Culture of Slavery on a Texas Plantation” presented by Dr. Whitney Nell Stewart, Associate Professor of History and Faculty of the Edith O’Donnell Institute of Art History at the University of Texas at Dallas. This session likely examined the everyday objects and material conditions of enslaved people on Texas plantations.
- “Enslaved Master Builders of Texas” presented by Dr. Tara A. Dudley, Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin. This presentation probably highlighted the skilled craftsmanship of enslaved individuals in constructing buildings and infrastructure in Texas.
Memorial Auditorium
Facilitated by Deborah Omowale Jarmon, this session featured:
- “OUTSIDER PRESERVATION: Commemoration as Placemaking in Freedom Colonies” presented by Dr. Andrea Roberts, Associate Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning & Director of the Center for Cultural Landscapes at the University of Virginia. This session likely focused on the preservation and commemoration of Freedom Colonies, communities established by formerly enslaved people after emancipation.
- “The Wilson Pottery Pioneers” presented by Paula King Harper, Board Chair of the Wilson Pottery Foundation. This presentation probably highlighted the contributions of the Wilson family, formerly enslaved individuals who established a successful pottery business.
Reception and Tour: Black Cowboys
A reception and tour of “Black Cowboys: An American Story” led by Ronald W. Davis, II, Curator of American History at the Witte Museum, offered attendees a chance to learn about the significant role of Black cowboys in shaping the American West.
Evening Keynote: On Juneteenth
The conference concluded with an evening keynote address by Annette Gordon-Reed, Carl M. Loeb University Professor at Harvard University. Her presentation, “On Juneteenth: The Essential Story of “Freedom Day” and Its Importance to American History,” provided a powerful reflection on the significance of Juneteenth and its relevance to understanding American history.
This conference provided a valuable platform for scholars, historians, and community members to engage with the complex history of slavery, emancipation, and African American life in Texas. By exploring various perspectives and sharing research, the conference contributed to a deeper understanding of this crucial period in Texas history.
