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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

1980
Local desegregation facts U.S. District Judge Jack Roberts gives final approval to the consent decree settling Austin’s decade long desegregation suit. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1980; The Austin Citizen, “Judge Puts OK On AISD Busing Plan,” January 03, 1980]
Local desegregation facts Various churches in Austin hear support for peaceful implementation of a desegregation plan and opposition to civil disobedience. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1980; The Austin Citizen, “Pastors Plea for Deseg Calm,” January 14, 1980]
Local desegregation facts Follow this link to Austin History Center photograph PICA 16534 Approximately 150 irate, distraught Austin parents meet with U.S. Representative Jake Pickle to ask his support for anti-busing legislation. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1980; The Austin Citizen, “Pickle Conference Leaves Anti-busers Frustrated,” January 21, 1980]
Local desegregation facts The Austin school board votes unanimously to recommend legislation providing state aid to districts with declining enrollment because of court-ordered desegregation. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1980; The Austin Citizen, “AISD to Ask Aid for Deseg-rifled districts,” January 27, 1980]
Local desegregation facts The Austin school board studies a revised transfer policy aimed at preventing the disruption of student assignment patterns under desegregation. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1980; The Austin Citizen, “School Transfers May End,” February 13, 1980]
Local desegregation facts The Austin school board agrees to take several proposed desegregation changes to the Intervenors in the desegregation lawsuit. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1980; The Austin Citizen, “Board to Seek Adjustments in Busing Plan,” March 04, 1980]
Local desegregation facts Follow this link to Austin History Center photograph PICB 13998 Anti-busing sentiment and a low voter turnout characterize an Austin Independent School Board election which result in the defeat of school trustee DeCourcy Kelley running in Place 2. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1980; The Daily Texan, “Busing Issue Critical in School Board Election,” April 07, 1980]
Local desegregation facts Fall enrollment at Austin’s private schools increases because of court-ordered desegregation. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1980; The Daily Texan, “Busing Spurs Exit to Private Schools,” September 10, 1980]