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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

1976
University of Texas at Austin (UT) facts The Black Business Association forms at The University of Texas at Austin to provide a means for students in the College of Business to network. [Marsh Durden, Almetris. Overcoming: A History of Black Integration at The University of Texas at Austin. 1979; A 378.76431 DU]
Local desegregation facts U.S. District Judge Jack Roberts appoints 21 persons to serve on a tri-ethnic committee to help plan Austin’s school integration. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1976; The Austin Citizen, “21 Named to Deseg Panel,” July 02, 1976]
Local desegregation facts In May, the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals remands the Austin ISD plan back to a local federal judge, in effect calling for further desegregation and possible abolition of sixth-grade schools. Heated community reaction follows in wake of the federal appeals decision. The school district appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1976; The Austin American-Statesman (Evening Edition), “Desegregation Chronology,” November 22, 1977]
Local desegregation facts In December, the Supreme Court strikes down the school desegregation order issued by the appeals court, and most plans in the district for top-to-bottom desegregation are halted. The case is sent back to the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals with an order from the Supreme Court to review the previous order. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1976; The Austin American-Statesman (Evening Edition), “Desegregation Chronology,” November 22, 1977]