***WINNER OF THE JOSEPH A. PRATT HOUSTON HISTORY PRIZE (CENTER FOR PUBLIC HISTORY), 2022***
In this special episode, Caitlyn Jones - a UH graduate student in public history - tells the story of Emancipation Park in Houston's historic Third Ward. Founded in 1872 by formerly enslaved people to host Juneteenth celebrations, the park remains a pillar of the community, a symbol of the long tradition of Black resistance, and a testament to Black life in Houston.
This episode was researched, recorded, and produced by Caitlyn Jones for the Center for Public History at the University of Houston.
To learn more:
Blair, C.D. “De-Ro-Loc: Houston’s Forgotten Festival.” Houston History 16.2 (March 2019): 7-12.
Blue, C.P. “Emancipation is a Park.” Houston History 9.3 (June 2012): 15-19.
Gray, L. “Friends of Emancipation Park hope renovation revitalizes neighborhood.” Houston Chronicle, Nov. 1, 2013.
McCullough, O.Y. “Yates, John Henry [Jack].” Handbook of Texas Online.
Theis, D. “Behind the New Look of Houston’s Oldest Park, a Complex Racial History.” Texas Observer, June 2017.
Oral Histories from the Houston History Project (Special Collections, UH Libraries):
Brown, Hazel Jewel. Feb. 22, 2013. https://digital.lib.uh.edu/collection/houhistory/item/1623/show/1622.
Burney, Zinetta. July 14, 2006. https://digital.lib.uh.edu/collection/houhistory/item/173/show/172.
King, Ester. Aug. 16, 2010. https://digital.lib.uh.edu/collection/houhistory/item/1415/show/1414.
Yates Alumni. Oct. 8, 2015. https://digital.lib.uh.edu/collection/houhistory/item/2491/show/2490.
This podcast features the original recording "George Floyd" by Sweet Lou.
Music provided through the Free Music Archive:
"Old River Boat" and "Area 42" by Lobo Loco
"Pine Apple Rag" by Scott Joplin
"Grief", "Delight", and "The Boss" by Dee Yan-Key
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
"Wade in the Water" by Dee Yan-Key
"Sunday Picnic" by Lobo Loco
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
"Roll Jordan Roll" by The Joy Drops
CC BY 4.0
"Afronauts" by Crowander
"Isolation" and "Letter to Summer" by Audiobinger
"Urban Haze" by Scott Holmes Music
CC BY-NC 4.0
The Center for Public History at the University of Houston. https://uh.edu/class/cph