Black & African American Cultural Context Statement

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A cultural context statement is a document that provides the framework for evaluating properties for historic significance. It includes information based on cultural themes which describe broad patterns of community development and identifies specific resource types such as buildings, structures, sites, objects and/or districts that represent those development patterns.

 The San Antonio Black and African American Cultural Context Statement has, and will continue to, inform preservation efforts. Resulting in:

• National Register nominations 

• Surveys of underrepresented communities 

• The completion of the graphic novel, "A Home, A Church, and a Hospital: The Development of East San Antonio"

• Identification of themes, places, and figures in need of additional research to tell San Antonio's full history

• Educational materials 

• Various forms of commemoration 

This framework for identifying and evaluating properties related to Black and African American history and culture in San Antonio is not intended to be a comprehensive history and City staff look forward to ongoing collaboration with the community to further develop the outcomes of the African American Heritage Preservation Initiative. 

Download the entire context statement or Explore by Section Below

Introduction

The African American and Black Cultural Context Statement serves as a tool and resource to assist the community, researchers, and preservationists in identifying significant places, events, and intangible heritage elements such as music, songs, dances, spirituality, festivals, and parade routes.

Learn more about how the cultural context statement informs decisions on preserving cultural heritage, including local landmark designations, National Register listings, historic markers, and other forms of recognition. 

Recognizing African American History in San Antonio

The context statement highlights the rich contributions of Black and African American communities to San Antonio's history and culture over more than 300 years.

While not intended to be a comprehensive history, it serves as a guide for ongoing research. The gaps highlighted in this brief overview underscore the importance of ongoing research and revisiting prior assumptions to deepen our understanding.  

Methodology: Identified Values and Themes

Discover how community input and archival materials played a key role in shaping the context statement, based on a framework of aesthetic, historic, scientific, social, and spiritual values. Additional themes, such as African American Educators, Labor and Enterprise, Religion, Music, Culture, Residential Life, and Community Growth, provide a more complete picture. Examining these values and themes helps us understand why a place truly matters.

Cultural Resource Surveys and Analysis

In 2022, the City of San Antonio (COSA) Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) received grant funding from the National Park Service (NPS) Underrepresented Community Grant Program (URC) to conduct a survey.

Discover five historically Black neighborhoods within a 3-mile radius of downtown San Antonio: the Westside Enclaves, Denver Heights, East Denver Heights, Harvard Place/Eastlawn, and Lincoln Heights.

Recommendations

Explore recommendations for survey work priorities, designation priorities, educational outreach, historic markers, National Register nominations, and initiatives by the Office of Historic Preservation, such as There’s a Story Here (TASH), Rehabarama, the Living Heritage Trades Academy, and the Deconstruction and Circular Economy initiative. These recommendations have been compiled through public engagement, including community meetings and discussions with cultural groups.