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Desegregation in Austin

Five Decades of Social Change: A Timeline

This web project presents an annotated chronology of major events in the desegregation of Austin, Texas, from 1940 to 1980 as they appeared in local newspapers and other materials such as the Austin Files (AF) in the archives at the Austin History Center, Austin Public Library. The timeline is intended as a guide to key events necessary for an understanding of this extraordinary time in the city’s history.

 

 

Key
Local African American firsts Local African American firsts
University of Texas at Austin (UT) facts University of Texas at Austin (UT) facts
Local desegregation facts Local desegregation facts
Statewide desegregation facts Statewide desegregation facts
National desegregation facts National desegregation facts

Note: The Austin American-Statesman newspaper had several name changes over the five decades covered in this timeline. The variations reflect usage for that time—Austin Statesman, The Austin Statesman, The Austin-Statesman, The Austin American, The Austin American-Statesman, American Statesman, The American-Statesman, Austin American-Statesman.

overview | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | all

1969

Local African American firsts The Department of Black History and Afro-American Studies is founded at The University of Texas at Austin and headed by John Warfield. [Simond, Ada. Looking Back, 1984; A 976.431. Si AA]
Local African American firsts The pattern of integration in Austin is black to white schools because the numbers of white schools outnumber black. Therefore, Austin school trustees set goals to have one white teacher for every black teacher in previously all black schools. A goal of 50-50 mixed faculties will near reality when school opens in September 1969. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1960s; The Austin-American Statesman, “Black into White is Integration Pattern.” February 26, 1969]
Local desegregation facts All black students in predominantly black areas are given choice of attending any school. [AF-Segregation-S1700 (2)-Public Schools-1975; The American-Statesman, “Desegregation in Austin,” August 17, 1975]
Local desegregation facts The Austin Independent School District’s desegregation plan is rejected for the third time by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1975; The American-Statesman, “Desegregation in Austin,” August 17, 1975]