HOUSTON – Many of the homes in Houston’s Freedmen’stown date from the 1920s and exemplify the ingenuity and strength of their builders.
For Sharoda Johnson, a five-generation Houston resident, these homes aren’t just historical relics, they represent the enduring spirit of Houston’s first African-American community.
“I’ve been through 10 failed master plans,” Johnson recalls. “They didn’t have a strong community component, they were always developer and corporate-driven. This area has weathered gentrification, urban renewal, eminent domain, and more, but these have taken away wealth from Black families. We need investment vehicles to bring people back and reinvest, and that’s exactly what Zion Escobar and her group have done.”
“Freedmen’s Town is a product of the Juneteenth celebration,” Zion Escobar, CEO of the Freedmen’s Town Community Investment Initiative, said at a recent launch event at 1500 Victor St. “To celebrate this celebration without understanding this history is to miss the truth and resilience that built it.”
Founded by freed slaves after June 19, 1865, Freedmen’s Town quickly developed into a cultural hub, earning the nickname “Black Wall Street” by 1930. But decades of challenges, including redlining, urban development and the construction of Interstate 45, took their toll on the community.
Today, the initiative is determined to reverse this decline.
They aim to restore Freedmen’stown to the vibrant place it once was by focusing on affordable housing, preserving cultural landmarks and fostering equitable commercial space.
“We are driving investment in Freedmen’s Town and changing perceptions of what is possible in this historically Black community,” Escobar explained.
The plan is to renovate 10 single-family homes and construct six new buildings to address Houston’s urgent affordable housing needs while allowing current and displaced residents to return to their homes.
Sharoda Johnson expressed excitement and gratitude for the efforts being made. “Finally, the city government and other entities are willing to come together to preserve our history, our traditions and our heritage and allow us to be at the forefront of it. I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Johnson said.
As Freedmen’s Town looks to the future, residents are optimistic about preserving their rich traditions and building a sustainable community for future generations.
To learn more about Freedmen’s Town and its ongoing revitalization efforts, click here.
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