Video summary
The video focuses on the historical significance of an African American cemetery, specifically highlighting a large stone monument erected by Lafayette Walker to document its history. This structure serves as a central point for visitors entering from Montrose or Montana Street, offering detailed information about the site's origins during San Antonio's segregated era when it was designated exclusively for burying persons of African descent due to racial restrictions that prevented burial in white cemeteries. The speaker notes the stark contrast between this cemetery and others, pointing out that while wealthy families could afford high-gloss granite or marble markers, many African Americans were forced to use simple concrete because they often could not afford better materials during those difficult times.
Several prominent historical figures are interred at this location, including Lafayette Walker himself, who was a Reconstruction-era leader opposed to the "Negro Agent" and organized efforts on the East Side from 1867 until his death in 1902. The site also honors Bishop Abram Grant, an Episcopal bishop who supported Booker T. Washington's philosophy of vocational training over academic pursuits for Black people at that time, as well as Harold Carver, a NAACP vice president and principal of Dunbar School who was notably opposed to the segregationist views held by Bishop Grant. Additionally, the cemetery is the final resting place of Ella Austin, a pioneering figure who established San Antonio's first black orphanage in 1897; her legacy endured for decades through the institution she founded, which continued operating until the 1960s even after her passing.
The narrative further explores the lives and struggles of other individuals buried there, such as Lynne Yousen, Houston University's first Black homecoming queen who was a radical activist murdered in Houston while fighting for civil rights. The speaker also mentions leaders involved in the famous 1904 streetcar boycott, including Jesse Bumbry, O.J. Carter, and William L. Higwood, as well as W.L. Higwood, an editor of the San Antonio Express who was indicted by the FBI's Bureau of Investigation for publishing articles that criticized white supremacy following the Houston riot where Black soldiers were hanged at Fort Sam Houston. These stories collectively illustrate a rich tapestry of leadership and resistance within the African American community during a period defined by systemic segregation and social injustice.
Ultimately, the video serves as both an educational resource and a tribute to these unsung heroes who shaped their communities despite immense adversity. By visiting this specific graveyard, one can physically connect with the history of struggle, resilience, and achievement that defines this part of San Antonio's heritage. The speaker emphasizes how the legacy of these individuals lives on through institutions like Austin Community Center in Pine Street, which was originally Ella Austin's orphanage, ensuring that their contributions to civil rights, education, and community support are not forgotten by future generations who walk among their graves today.
Read the full video transcript
um
i was uh they asked me to do a
historical marker so if you go visit
that graveyard you'll see this great big
gigantic piece of stone
and on the top of it it's like a metal
plate and it explains the history of
that graveyard you'll see my name on
there at the bottom because i'm the one
that wrote that
so
if you go in from the montreux montana
street side
uh you'll see that big
you know it looks like a podium where
somebody will come and that's what it
looks like a podium you just read it and
i'll tell you some more or give you some
more information about about that
particular graveyard
um
one of the person that
one of the people that i find the most
interesting that's buried there
was a guy named lafayette walker
during the area of era of san antonio's
segregated era these grounds became
designated as the burial place for
persons of african descent
many important historical figures are
interned at this location including
lafayette walkers so now you know who
lafayette walker is he's buried here
a leader during reconstruction that
opposed the negro agent that's what
newcomb was called at the time the negro
agent
in seeking rights for african americans
names and accomplishments ella austin
established a home for black orphans
y'all saw her picture at the restaurant
bishop abram grant it's a grave right
over there behind you we'll go walk over
there
um
lobbied for segregated schools he's an
african-american episcopal bishop
but he was an adherent to the booker t
washington school of thought and matter
of fact he was very close friends with
booker t washington uh and he's buried
over there um and of course their
philosophy was you know blacks ought to
not learn academics blacks ought to
learn how to sow and cook and that kind
of stuff so that was the bad part about
segregation
also
harold carver the second vice president
of the naacp and principal of the dunbar
school which is an all black elementary
school
is also buried here
and was an opponent of bishop grant
lynn you saying if you look in your
packet you see that beautiful lady with
the big afro she's buried here and um
she was sent what she in she was from
san antonio her whole family's plot is
over there
but she was
the houston university of houston's
first black homecoming queen
she was killed
in houston murdered
and she was a very radical person that
fought for african-american rights uh
and was killed she has the most
beautiful afro you ever want to see and
i do have i did give you all a picture
of her so you have a picture of lynne
youssen um she's buried over here
first black hole incoming queen
university of houston and the leaders of
the 1904 streetcar boycott jesse bumbry
o.j carter and william l higgwood
editor of the san antonio enquirer
indicted by the fbi in those days it was
the bureau of investigation
then indicted him
for allowing articles to be published
criticizing the treatment of black
soldiers that rebelled against white
supremacy in the houston riot and were
subsequently hanged at fort cham
houston uh those of you from san antonio
um
probably may need to make note of this
this is the man they said this this be
the man he fought in either the ninth or
tenth black calvary in tennessee comes
to san antonio he makes a deal with with
a nukem you already saw newcomb's grave
this graveside only blacks will bury
here because blacks couldn't be buried
in the white graveyard
but look at the difference in the
material of the stone
there's just simple cheap concrete
whereas you've got the the white
cemetery is very high gloss granite or
in some cases high gloss marble
but
being african-american often times
they couldn't afford that especially
during this time frame and so this is
the best that they could do
and this is lafayette walker's grave
here
he was the the leader he's the one who
organized all of the east side
from 1867 until the time he died in 1902
uh this is the grave of ella austin the
lady i showed you that started the first
black orphanage picture very famous
person in san antonio and now it's an
austin community center on pine street
it's still there and
she did a fantastic job with taking
young black children who had no mother
no father and put it in and bringing
them to an orphanage and helping them
make it in life so she was the
first black orphanage in the city of san
antonio back in 1897
she organized it and it stayed in
existence all the way up until the 1960s
so um that's how long it was there now
she died of course
look how old
how long ago that was
and
but her legacy lived on
with that orphanage continuing in
operation years after she had passed on
right there
is she right for the
for the black newspaper in houston or it
might have been the i'm sorry forward
times she was for the houston four times
which was
forward times which was the black
newspaper in houston and um
very active in organizing the community
very
active in organizing the black community
of houston and fighting for civil and
human rights
and
uh did a really wonderful job
she was one of the people involved in
the movement
for change
and of course her life was snuffed out
very early