Five Decades of Social Change: A Timeline

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

1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969

1960	A delegation of leaders from the African American community that included Arthur DeWitty, Rev. B. L. McCormick, Mrs. Friendly R. Rice, and Dr. Beadie E. Conner requests that the two “For Whites Only” signs be removed from the basement of the Travis County Courthouse. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1960; The Austin Statesman, “Courthouse Integration Complete,” March 01, 1960] White and African American students from several area colleges picket businesses on Congress Avenue urging “integration of lunch counters.” [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1960; The Dallas Morning News, “Student Pickets in Austin Ask for Integration,” April 28, 1960] African American and white University of Texas students at Austin stage three demonstrations against the segregated Texas Theater on the main campus. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (1)-University of Texas; The Texas Observer, “Students Demonstrate Against Texas Theater,” December 09, 1960s] The Travis County Grand Jury indicts University students John Winborn and William H. McKnight for setting off a homemade bomb outside an integrationist meeting at The University of Texas YMCA. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (1)-University of Texas; The American-Statesman, “Pair Indicted in Bombing,” December 04, 1960] Integrationists conduct stand-ins at the Texas and Varsity Theaters on the Drag near The University of Texas campus area. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1960s; The Austin American, “Stand-ins Continue on Drag,” December 14, 1960]
1961	The Texas, Varsity, Paramount and State Theaters are targets of stand-ins by segregationists. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1960s; The Austin American, “450 Protest at Theaters,” February 13, 1961] Rev. Buck, a priest in charge of St. James Episcopal Church, carried a sign stating: “The segregation policy of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is unfair to Negro Episcopals. Do not support segregation.” [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1960s; The Austin Statesman, “Pickets Walk in Front of Episcopal School,” April 20, 1961] The sixth grade of the Austin Public Schools integrates in September for the first time. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1960s; The Austin American, “6th Grade Integration Approved,” July 11, 1961] Five hundred African American students are eligible to transfer to white schools as a result of the Austin ISD Board of Education’s decision to continue its desegregation policy into the elementary schools. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1960s; The Austin Statesman, “500 Negro 6th Graders Can Enter White Schools,” July 11, 1961] The Texas and Varsity Theaters located on the Drag near The University of Texas campus integrate under a newly adopted integration policy. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1960s; The Austin Statesman, “2 Theaters Integrated For Students,” September 05, 1961]
1962	The fifth grade is the next level to integrate following a “grade-by-grade downward progression.” [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1960s; The Austin American, “Fifth Graders Desegregated,” September 05, 1962] Black students at The University of Texas extend an invitation to civil rights leader Martin Luther King to assist them with the full integration of all university facilities, including dormitories and intercollegiate athletics. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (1)-University of Texas; The Dallas Morning News, “Officials at UT Disturbed by Report Dr. King Invited,” October 20, 1962]
1963	University of Texas and Huston-Tillotson College students picket Piccadilly Cafeteria in downtown Austin for not serving African Americans. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1960s; The Austin Statesman, “Downtown Cafeteria Picketed,” February 14, 1964] Houston public swimming pools integrate, June 7th. Houston Mayor Lewis Cutrer orders that Houston municipal pools be open to blacks. The city had already desegregated all public buildings in 1962. Parks and municipal golf courses had previously been opened to all races. City pools are the last of the municipal facilities to eliminate segregation. [Scrapbook Collection: News Clippings Recreation Department 1963; AR Z.025] Harry Akins, owner of the Night Hawk Restaurants Inc. of Austin and San Antonio, met with a group of Austin restaurant owners to discuss integration. Seventeen of the restaurant owners signed pledges to make their facilities available to all persons “regardless of race, color or creed.” Akins is one of 100 business men from around the nation-and five from Texas-who attended the White House conference on the need for greater integration of facilities available to the public. When at the conference U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy read the list of Texas cities that have made considerable progress in the integration of public facilities, Austin was not among them. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1960s; The Austin Statesman, “City Restaurants Sign Integrate Pact,” June 06, 1963] The Austin Chamber of Commerce adopts a resolution recommending the “immediate and complete integration of all public facilities.” [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1960s; The Austin Statesman, “City Action Is Praised,” June 13, 1963] The Austin School Board lifts the remaining barriers to complete integration. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1960s; The Austin Statesman, “Grades 1 Through 12 Affected in September,” June 15, 1963] The Austin Ice Palace at 3800 Airport Blvd. removes “white only” policy. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1960s; The Austin-American, “Rink Drops Racial Bars,” June 19, 1963] Citywide playgrounds are integrated quietly and smoothly during the summer season. For the first time, Rosewood Recreation District (the African American district) participates in all citywide events. Black and white players compete together in baseball tournaments. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1960s; The Austin Statesman, “Integration of City’s Playgrounds Smooth,” September 24, 1963]
1964	The Civil Rights Act of 1964 “enforces the constitutional right to vote, to confer jurisdiction upon the district courts of the United States to provide injunctive relief against discrimination in public accommodations, to authorize the Attorney General to institute suits to protect constitutional rights in public facilities and public education, to extend the Commission on Civil Rights, to prevent discrimination in federally assisted programs, to establish a Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity, and for other purposes.” [http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/ infousa/laws/majorlaw/civilr19.htm] The University of Texas Board of Regents removes the last vestige of segregation on campus when it voted 6-1 to desegregate dormitories. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (1)-University of Texas; The Daily Texan, “Regents Drop Dormitory Segregation; University Becomes Totally Integrated,” May 17, 1964] Mrs. Cora Eiland Hicks, who in 1953 became the first African American to hold a position higher than a clerk at The University of Texas, is appointed to the University faculty as a teaching assistant in the English Department. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (1) -University of Texas; The Texas Observer, “UT Promotes Negro Woman to Faculty,” June 09, 1964] Dr. Ervin Sewell Perry (1935-1970) becomes the first African American to be appointed to the faculty of a previously all-white southern university when he begins teaching at The University of Texas at Austin in September. He is appointed to the position of assistant professor of engineering. [The Austin American, “First Negro Professor at UT Dies At Age 34,” December 15, 1970; http://www.lib.utexas.edu/pcl/history/perry.html] Three African American teachers integrate for the first time the faculty of two Austin high schools. William Akins, world history teacher, integrates Johnston High School; B.T. Snell, seventh grade English and social studies, along with English teacher Narveline Drennan, integrate Allan Junior High School. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1960s; The Austin American, “Austin Faculty Is Integrated,” September 11, 1964]
1965	The Civil Rights Act of 1965 “forbids racial, religious, and gender discrimination in public accommodations; allows withholding of federal grants and contracts from violators; forbids discrimination by employers; and empowers the Justice Department to sue violators.” [http://www.humboldt.edu/ ~go1/hist111/civilrights.html] The 40 Acres Club at The University of Texas admits Black members for the first time. [Marsh Durden, Almetris. Overcoming: A History of Black Integration at The University of Texas at Austin. 1979; A 378.76431 DU] A white boy and an African American girl “apply” for a marriage license against Texas law that prohibits interracial marriage. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1960s; The Austin Statesman, “White Boy, Negro Girl ‘Apply’ For Marriage License,” October 07, 1965] The Cowboy Minstrel Show votes out blackface in its annual performances. [Marsh Durden, Almetris. Overcoming: A History of Black Integration at The University of Texas at Austin. 1979; A 378.76431 DU]
1966	On May 10th, Superintendent Irby B. Carruth issues a letter to all parents announcing that Austin Independent School District would “no longer have schools for children of different races.” The U.S. Office of Education had accepted the school desegregation plan, whose adoption was begun in 1955 and completed in 1963. Now all students had to make a “choice.” [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1960s]
1967	All [Old] Anderson High School area students are given the choice of attending any high school in district. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1977; The Austin American-Statesman (Evening Edition), “Desegregation Chronology,” November 22, 1977] Austin City Council passes the Fair Housing Ordinance, outlawing discrimination on the basis of race, color, or religion in selling, renting, and financing housing. [Marsh Durden, Almetris. Overcoming: A History of Black Integration at the University of Texas at Austin. 1979; A 378.76431 DU] Douglas Washington becomes the first African American to pledge a white fraternity at The University of Texas. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (1)-University of Texas; The Austin-American, “Fraternity Has Negro As Pledge,” October 11, 1968] A U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare survey team declares Austin ISD in noncompliance with the Civil Rights Act. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-1700 (2)-1970s; The Austin American-Statesman (Evening Edition), “Desegregation Chronology,” November 22, 1977]
1968	In April, Wilhelmina Fitzgerald Delco is elected to the Austin ISD Board of Trustees, becoming the first African American in Austin to be elected to such a position. [AF-Biography-Delco, Exalton Alfonso, Jr.] On April 4, civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is assassinated while standing on the balcony of his room at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. [http://history1900s.about.com/cs/ martinlutherking/a/mlkassass.htm] Both black and white students hold a campus memorial service, honoring the life of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that includes a march to the Texas Capitol building and a service sponsored by the Austin Council of Churches at Municipal Auditorium. [Marsh Durden, Almetris. Overcoming: A History of Black Integration at The University of Texas at Austin. 1979; A 378.76431 DU]
1969	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] 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] 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] 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]