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"Coming to Texas, 1528-1836" Approximately 54% of all enslaved Africans brought to the New World between 1519 and 1700 disembarked in Spanish America, and New Spain (Mexico) received its share through the ports of Veracruz where Africans were first brought and taken for work in the country's gold and silver mines, as servants, field workers and other labors. So numerous were Africans in New Spain that by 1570 the 20,569 Africans there were three times the Spanish population. The Africans spread out through New Spain, including heading north and across the Rio Grande inter-marrying with indigenous people, running away from slavery (marronage) and starting their own communities. Some became the first black Texans. This package examines how Africans first came to this part of the world:
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Mailing address: Michael Hurd, Director Texas Institute for the Preservation of History and Culture Prairie View A&M University P.O. Box 519, MS 2100 Prairie View, Texas 77446 Phone: 936-261-9836 Email: [email protected]; [email protected] |
Unitarian Universal Fellowship of Austin |
Texas Black History Preservation Project Documenting the Complete African American Experience in Texas -- "Know your history, know yourself" |
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Africans have had a presence in Texas for almost 500 years, maybe longer. The territory was the northernmost area of New Spain (Mexico) in 1528 when Esteban (Estevanico), a Moroccan Moor servant, waded ashore with a group of Spanish conquistadors near what is now Galveston Island and established himself as the first known African in what would become Texas. Since, African Americans have contributed significantly in all facets of the building of the Lone Star State -- its infrastructure, image, and culture. For that, the Texas Black History Preservation Project is charting every aspect of the black experience in Texas as an online encyclopedia. |
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TBHPP, The Blog! Prairie View A&M history professor Ron Goodwin's bi-weekly blog is exclusive to TBHPP, addressing black history and contemporary African American issues. Follow, comment, and join in the discourse. Read it here. |