Black History Is Texas History
This Black History Month, we celebrate Black Texans across the state.
Black History Is Texas History.
On June 19, 1865 more than 250,000 enslaved Black Texans were finally informed that they were able to live freely. Juneteenth is designated as a state and national holiday, largely due to the efforts of a Black Texas woman named Opal Lee , often called the Grandmother of Juneteenth.
Following emancipation, Black Texans settled across the state.
Freed Black Texans moved into settlements called "Freedom Colonies" where they were able to own land and start a new life during reconstruction. The Texas Freedom Colonies Project has verified the locations of many of these historic sites, visible as blue points on the map.
The past and present landscape of the Black population in Texas.
To explore the change in Black population between 1870 and 2022, swipe between the two sides of this map. The left side is the Black population density (population per square mile) in 1870, and the right side is 2022. Following emancipation, Black Texans settled in more rural areas, whereas today Black Texans live primarily in urban and suburban areas as the entire state densifies.
Source: IPUMS NHGIS
The Black population grew continuously over time, though it faltered during times of restrictive and racist policies.
During the Reconstruction Era, the Black population of Texas grew 1.5 times in size from 250,000 in 1870 to 690,000 in 1900, but slowed in the coming decades.
Source: IPUMS NHGIS
While the total Black population in Texas continued to grow, the share of Black Texans in the state declined in the years following emancipation and reconstruction.
During the Great Migration, many Black residents of the South fled restrictive Jim Crow laws and racial violence. As a state we must acknowledge this part of our history and make policies to advance social justice for current and future Black Texans.
Source: IPUMS NHGIS
1 out of 12 Texans identify as Black or African American.
In the latest 2022 American Community Survey Data we find that 3,552,579 residents of Texas identify as Black or African American . That's roughly 1 out of every 12 Texans, and this number is growing. The Black population of Texas grew by 579,745 in the last decade, a 20% increase between 2012 and 2022. By 2050, it is projected that there will be 6,030,795 Black people living in Texas . Some have theorized that this could in part be a reversal of the Great Migration, as more Black Americans move to southern states .
Texas has the largest Black population of any state.
Texas is home to 178,631 more Black residents than Georgia, the state with the second largest Black population. However, Texas only ranks 18th in the share of Black population, with 12% of Texans identifying as Black compared to 31% of Georgians. Mississippi has the highest share of Black population at 37%.
Source: Every Texan analysis of U.S. Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
Where do Black Texans live?
Unsurprisingly, the greatest number of Black Texans are in the state's most populous areas. The largest numbers of Black Texans live in Harris (893,000), Dallas (586,000), and Tarrant (365,000) counties. Combined, these three counties make up more than half (51%) of the Black Texan population.
Source: Every Texan analysis of U.S. Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
Counties with the highest percentages of Black residents are Jefferson (33%), Bowie (25%), Waller (25%), Houston (24%), Bell (24%), and Dallas (23%). Dallas is the most populous of these.
Source: Every Texan analysis of U.S. Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
Black Texans are diverse.
Black Texans come from many different backgrounds, and it's important to understand the varied experiences among them.
6% of Black Texans are Hispanic or Latino.
Of the 234,691 Black Texans who identify as Hispanic or Latino, 56% are Mexican, 15% are Puerto Rican, 5% are Dominican, 4% are Honduran, and 4% are Cuban.
Source: Every Texan analysis of U.S. Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Public Use Microdata Sample
9% of Black Texans (more than 300,000) were born outside of the United States to non-citizen parents.
Of these Black Texans, 28% were born in Nigeria, 7% in Ethiopia, 5% in Kenya, and 5% in Cameroon.
Source: Every Texan analysis of U.S. Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Public Use Microdata Sample
More than 365,000 Black Texans speak a language other than English at home.
Of these individuals, 33% speak Spanish, 11% speak French, 10% speak Yoruba, and 7% speak Igbo. Overall, Black Texans speak at least 89 different languages.
Source: Every Texan analysis of U.S. Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Public Use Microdata Sample
Black Texans mirror statewide trends in terms of age.
The median age for Black Texans is 33.6 years while the overall median age in Texas is 35.2 years.
Source: Every Texan analysis of U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2022 July 1st Population Estimates
More than 115,000 Black Texans are LGBTQ.
The Williams Institute estimates that 11% of LGBT Texans are Black and that 10,600 Black transgender adults live in Texas. We also found that while 8% of all coupled householders in Texas are Black, 19% of unmarried same-sex women couples are Black. It is important to note that LGBTQ populations are often undercounted .
Source: Every Texan analysis of IPUMS 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
Black Texans are entrepreneurs and changemakers, but economic and health disparities persist.
Not only is the population of Black Texans growing, but so are the numbers of Black Texans with advanced degrees and Black business owners.
Black women are leaders in higher education.
Black women are leaders in education across the state. According to the Texas Women’s Foundation Economic Issues for Women in 2022 , Black and Hispanic women are the primary contributors to women’s educational attainment advancement in Texas. Of Black women aged 25 and over in Texas, 18% have a Bachelor’s degree as their highest level of education and 12% have a professional degree. Comparatively, 16% of Black men aged 25 and over have a Bachelor’s degree as their highest level of education and 9% have a professional degree. Despite these differences in educational attainment, 62% of all Black Texans 25 and over have a college education.
Source: Every Texan analysis of U.S. Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Public Use Microdata Sample
12% of Texas workers are Black and 6% of Black workers are business owners.
The Texas Labor force is composed of roughly 16 million Texas, more than 2 million of which are Black. A higher share of Black Texans work in the federal or state government compared to Texas workers overall. 132,000 Black Texans are self-employed and own their own businesses.
Source: Every Texan analysis of U.S. Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Public Use Microdata Sample
Systemic inequalities remain in health care.
Black Texans are hardworking contributors to our state despite systemic inequities that are hurdles for many. In Texas, 15% of Black people lack health insurance compared to 10% of white people in the state. Black women also disproportionately experience negative outcomes in maternal care that result in significant health consequences.
Source: Every Texan analysis of U.S. Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table C27001B
Disparities persist in homeownership and wealth.
Texas has the second largest number of Black homeowners of any state at 556,000, second only to Georgia at 603,000. However, only 41% of Black households in Texas own their own homes, compared to 68% of white households in 2022. Not only are Black Texans less likely to own their own home, but homes in Black neighborhoods are valued on average 21-23% less than comparable homes in white neighborhoods through appraisal bias . This leads to a loss in potential wealth accumulation for Black households.
Source: Every Texan analysis of U.S. Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
Income disparities remain.
The median household income for Black households in Texas is 31% lower than that of white households ($55,459 and $80,134 respectively). Inequities are even more pronounced for Black women . For every dollar earned by a white man in Texas, a Black man makes 74 cents, and a Black woman makes 66 cents. The median earnings for a Black woman (age 16+) working full time are $45,855, compared to $51,474 for a Black man and $69,975 for a white man. Families of color would have even more spending power to fuel the Texas economy if racial and gender income disparities were closed.
Source: Every Texan analysis of U.S. Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
We all win when Black Texans thrive.
Our state needs policies that ensure equitable economic and well-being outcomes for all Texans. At Every Texan, we believe we will achieve our vision of racial equity in Texas when an individual or group’s race or ethnicity no longer predict their well-being, opportunities, and outcomes. When Black Texans thrive, the entire state prospers.
