The African American population in San Antonio, Texas has been a significant part of the city's community since its founding. African Americans have been a part of the Greater San Antonio's history since the late 1800s.
History
Many African Americans in Texas remained in slavery until after the U.S. Civil War ended. There was scarce Union Army activity in Texas, preventing them from joining the Northern lines. During the Reconstruction Era, newly emancipated African American slaves began moving from rural areas in Texas and Louisiana to San Antonio, establishing Freedmen's Towns on the city's East Side. Ellis Alley was one of the first African-American neighborhoods in San Antonio. The city had a few black slaves among its 3,436 people. Although slavery ended after the U.S. Civil War, by the mid-1870s racial segregation became codified throughout the South, including Texas. African Americans in San Antonio were poorly represented by the predominantly white state legislature and city council, and were politically disenfranchised during the Jim Crow era; whites had used a variety of tactics, including militias and legislation, to re-establish political and social supremacy throughout the South. Racial segregation ended in the mid-1960s. On March 16, 1960, San Antonio became the first southern city to begin integration of its small restaurants. In the 1970s, the African American population in San Antonio was 7.6 percent. Forbes ranked San Antonio in one of The Top 10 Cities Where African-Americans Are Doing The Best Economically. In addition to the New Great Migration, many African Americans in the US are now recently moving to San Antonio for lower cost of living and more job opportunities. Ivy Taylor was also the first African American to be elected mayor of San Antonio and only the second woman in the position.
Geography
In the 1970s, The African American population in San Antonio was 7.6 percent. The East Side of San Antonio has a large concentration of predominantly African American residents. The African American population is now 6.9 percent. Denver Heights is historically one of the oldest black neighborhoods in San Antonio. Outside of the East Side, the San Antonio black population of both working and middle-class families is located on the diverse Northeast Side in areas like Camelot, Sunrise and Dignowity Hill as their presence has been around since the 1980s and 90s.
Politics
was also the first African American to be elected mayor of San Antonio and only the second woman in the position. Taylor was elected to San Antonio City Council in 2009 to represent District 2 on the east side of the city, and was re-elected to the body in 2011 and 2013. The Alamo City Black Chamber of Commerce in San Antonio was established in April, 1938.
Media
The San Antonio Observer is the only African American Newspaper in San Antonio since 1995 and the largest in all of South Texas.
Notable African-American cultural point of interest includes the San Antonio African American Community Archive & Museum.
Juneteenth
is an annual celebration recognizing the emancipation of black slaves in Texas. President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and published it on January 1, 1863, but it did not reach Texas until June 19, 1865. Over the next few years, African-American populations across Texas collected money to buy property dedicated to Juneteenth celebrations.
