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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

1971

Local desegregation facts The Tri-Ethnic Community Council is formed in January to work for equal educational opportunity for all Austin students. [AF-Segregation-S1700 (13)-Tri-Ethnic Community Council]
Local desegregation facts U.S. Federal District Court rules that Austin ISD is not discriminating against Mexican American students, and orders the closing of Anderson High, Kealing Jr. High, and St. John’s Elementary. [AF-Segregation-S1700 (2)-Public Schools-1975; The American-Statesman, “Desegregation in Austin,” August 17, 1975]
University of Texas at Austin (UT) facts During the 1971-72 academic year, twelve black students at The University of Texas conduct door-to-door surveys and density studies and gather signatures on a petition to successfully obtain a shuttle bus route into East Austin. [Marsh Durden, Almetris Overcoming: A History of Black Integration at The University of Texas at Austin. 1979; A 378.76431 DU]
Local desegregation facts President Richard M. Nixon announces the government’s decision to take an appeal on limited constitutional grounds in the case of the United States v. Austin Independent School District. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1971; The Austin American, “Minimum Busing Plan Is Appealed: Nixon Tells His Position,” August 04, 1971]
Local desegregation facts Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jack L. Davidson tells an urban renewal agency representative that construction of low-cost housing in the area of Anderson High School would compound the district’s desegregation problems. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1971; The Austin American, “Low-Cost Housing Hinders Integration, Davidson Says,” February 10, 1971]
Local desegregation facts The Austin ISD receives confirmation that it will not be eligible for a share of President Nixon’s $75 million emergency desegregation fund. After much discussion and efforts to secure the funds, the application, which included $14,000 for transportation, was rejected by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare in Dallas. It was rejected because the Austin ISD was not under a permanent court-ordered acceptable desegregation plan. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1971; The Austin American, “Austin Schools Miss Cash,” February 24, 1971]
Local desegregation facts Follow this link to Austin History Center photograph PICA 07569 The Austin ISD adopts two alternative desegregation plans, both calling for the closing of Anderson High School and Kealing Junior High. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1971; The Austin American, “Integration Plans Voted Kealing, Anderson Would Close,” May 06, 1971]
Local desegregation facts The government rests its case in federal court after unveiling a plan for busing 13,103 Austin students at an estimated cost of more than $1 million. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1971; The Austin American, “Government Rests Its Case,” June 18, 1971]
Local desegregation facts A United States District judge orders the immediate implementation of the Austin ISD’s desegregation plan. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1971; The Austin American, “Local Integration Scheme Wins Nod,” July 20, 1971]
Local desegregation facts Anderson High School and Kealing Jr. High close September 1. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1971; The Austin Citizen, “Busing Plan Evokes Comment,” July 22, 1971]
Local desegregation facts The Austin Chapter of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund says that “if the Justice Department does not appeal the decision in the Austin desegregation case, it will.” [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1971; The Daily Texan, “NAACP Set To Appeal Austin Plan,” August 03, 1971]
Local desegregation facts Students at Kealing Junior High and Anderson High School are given counseling to help crossing over proceed smoothly. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1971; The Austin American, “Students Given Helping Hand In Crossing to New Schools,” August 12, 1971]
Local desegregation facts The City of Austin Human Relations Commission issues a statement asking Austinites to support whatever school desegregation plan is implemented in Austin. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1971; The Austin American, “School Plan Is Supported By the HRC,” August 25, 1971]
Local desegregation facts The Austin Chapter of the NAACP and the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund are granted permission by the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to intervene in the Austin school desegregation case pending before the court. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1971; The Austin American, “2 Groups In School Appeal,” August 25, 1971]
Local desegregation facts The Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals grants a nine-day extension is to the federal government, giving the Department of Health, Education and Welfare until Sept. 3 to file a brief in the Austin school desegregation case. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1971; The Austin American, “Nine-Day Extension Granted,” August 26, 1971]
Local desegregation facts Follow this link to Austin History Center photograph PICA 10497 Busing gets off to a smooth start on its first day. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1971; The Austin American, “Busing Gets Off To Smooth 1st Day,” August 31, 1971]
Local desegregation facts Tension under the strain of forced integration sets off a series of fights and boisterous student confrontations that disrupt A.N. McCallum High School and shut down classes shortly after noon. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1970s; The Austin American, “Race Tension Sparks Clash,” September 02, 1971]
Local desegregation facts Follow this link to Austin History Center photograph PICA 10494 The Federal Justice Department outlines its appeal of the Austin school desegregation plan and agues against excessive busing, a turn in the department’s stance. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1971; The Austin American, “Feds Against Heavy Busing,” September 08, 1971]