Black Houston(s): Research, Policy and Activism
— Past and Future —

Known to locals as “H-Town” and “the Prophetic City,” Houston is the most ethnically diverse metropolitan area in the United States and the fourth largest city in the nation. At least 145 languages are spoken by city residents, and 90 nations have consular representation in the city. As such, it serves as an ideal landscape to reflect on the rich contributions of shifting and dynamic Afro-Diasporic communities in the city over time. For our purposes, the African Diaspora, broadly defined, consists of peoples of African origin living outside the continent, irrespective of their citizenship and nationality. This symposium will provide a platform for community members and scholars to come together in order to unpack the ways in which the political, economic and social landscapes of Houston impact the diversity of experiences for Black people in the city. It will serve as an important backdrop to draw attention to Black Houston(s) rich past, and create the intellectual space for scholars and collaborative working groups to establish research networks that will impact future policy and scholarship.