2206 Dowling Street, Houston Civil Rights Movement

Professional Building at 2206 Dowling Street

Houston Civil Rights Movement

While much of the south was in turmoil during the Civil Rights Movement, of the late 1950s and 1960s, Houston Civil Rights Movement was a more peaceful, low profile end to Jim Crow.

What is little known outside of civil rights veterans is that Houston’s lunch counter sit-in was just a few weeks later than the famous Greensboro, North Carolina lunch counter sit-in staged in February 1960. More recognition is due to attorney Eldrewey Stearns at 2206 Dowling Street and other leaders connected with Texas Southern University, who organized and exerted peaceful, effective pressure on the white Houston power structure.

To the credit of all concerned, an end to Jim Crow segregation of all downtown facilities was quickly implemented days before the world tuned into Houston for its grand opening of the Astrodome, the world’s first indoor stadium capable of hosting baseball, football, and rodeos.

Had the un-Jim Crowing of Houston not happened before the grand opening, it is doubtful that Houston would have won congressional funding to build NASA headquarters here. After all, NASA was the trophy America used to represent “the highest ideals of civility and best interests of man” to the rest of the world. Nor would the Texas Medical Center receive as many federal research grants.

After the Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed, the Supreme Court required southern states to reapportion their electoral districts.

In 1966, Barbara Jordan, a young lawyer and Texas Southern alumnus, was the first African American to win a state senate seat. An eloquent and commanding orator, Jordan went on to be a shinning light for the state, as she introduced the first Texas minimum wage bill, and set up the Texas Fair Employment Practices Commission.

In 1972, Barbara Jordan was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. She proved worthy of the position immediately. With her impeccable integrity, preparation and brilliant oratory skills, she verbally dispatched many an elder white male Congressman. She co-led the struggle that eventually impeached President Richard Nixon. Her success helped elevate Congressional Black Caucus members’ access to leadership of committees. Even conservatives acknowledged her as a possible presidential or vice-presidential candidate, until chronic illness led her to give up her Congressional seat.

The struggle continued in the 1970s with strong leadership by Mickey Leland, who served six terms in the U.S. Congress, until his untimely death by plane crash in Ethiopia.

Return to HOUSTON

2 replies
  1. Charles Martel says:

    My name is Charles Martel I stay in Houston Texas and I need to know if anyone can pass me some information I’ve had my civil rights violated by Harris county sheriff’s deputies there was some police brutality involved and excessive force I’m reaching out to everyone to get my story out there I was tased over 10 times and I was beat on slightly I was not resisting arrest I was not trying to fight the offices I did not go for anyone’s taser or gun in the report the officer tried to grab my hand I just pulled away and I was tased in my back. After that I was tased 10 times and beat on I need to know if anyone can send me information to someone that can help me that would be helpful I can’t believe that I survived this whole incident and that I live to tell about it thank the Lord that I’m still here thank you so much may God bless all you guys families and friends and I pray that none of you have to go to this situation.

Login. Register. Use your Google / Facebook login.

Leave a Reply