MY MATRICULATION THROUGH TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
On March 7, 1927, the Houston Independent School District board resolved to establish junior colleges for each race, as the state was racially segregated in all public facilities. The resolution created Houston Junior College, which later became the University of Houston, and Houston Colored Junior College, which first held classes at Jack Yates High School during the evenings. The school's name was later changed to Houston College for Negroes in 1934.
In February 1946, Heman Marion Sweatt an African American man, applied to the University of Texas School of Law. He was denied admission because of race, and subsequently filed suit in Sweatt v. Painter (1950). The state had no law school for African Americans. To avoid integrating the University of Texas Law School, the state of Texas made several offers to Heman Marion Sweatt to keep him from going to court. They offered to establish the Texas State University of Negroes which would include a law school. Some black leaders welcomed the idea of having another state supported university in Texas, while many others felt as though the university was created to solely avoid the integration of the University of Texas, as well as other white institutions. In the end, they did not grant Sweatt a writ of mandamus to attend the University of Texas, the trial court granted a continuance for six months to allow the state time to create a law school for blacks.
As a result, the Fiftieth Texas Legislature passed Texas Senate Bill 140 on March 3, 1947, authorizing and funding the creation of Texas State University for Negroes as the first state university to be located in Houston. The school was established to serve African Americans in Texas and offer them fields of study comparable to those available to white Texans. The state took over the Houston Independent School District (HISD)-run Houston College for Negroes as a basis for the new university. Houston College moved to the present site (adjacent to the University of Houston), which was donated by Hugh Roy Cullen. It had one permanent building and an existing faculty and students. The new university was charged with teaching "pharmacy, dentistry, arts and sciences, journalism, education, literature, law, medicine and other professional courses." The legislature stipulated that "these courses shall be equivalent to those offered at other institutions of this type supported by the State of Texas."
Given the differences in facilities and intangibles, such as the distance of the new school from Austin, the University of Texas School of Law, and other law students, the United States Supreme Court ruled the new facility did not satisfy "separate but equal" provisions. It ruled that African Americans must also be admitted to the University of Texas Law School at Austin.
In March 1960, Texas Southern University students organized Houston's first sit-in at the Weingarten's lunch counter located at 4110 Almeda. The success of their efforts inspired more sit-ins throughout the city, which, within months, led to the desegregation of many of Houston's public establishments. Today, a historical marker commissioned by the Texas Historical Commission stands on the property of the first sit-in to commemorate the courageous acts of those TSU students. That property is now a U.S. Post Office. TSU journalism professor Serbino Sandifer-Walker worked for nearly two years with the Texas Historical Commission, the original students who led the march, and many other stakeholders, to have the historic marker designated on March 4, 2010, the fiftieth anniversary of that sit-in.
On May 17, 1967, it was reported that students at TSU rioted on campus. When officers responded thousands of shots were fired and there were injuries on both sides including a death of a police officer. Nearly 500 students were arrested. Although media sources reported this as a riot, there were no reports of looting, destruction of property, or resistance of any arrest. Furthermore, the reports failed to mention the prior invasion of police officers on campus, or the reports of students getting roughed up on campus. The police raid caused over $10,000 of damage and it was reported over 3,000 shots were fired into the Lanier dormitory. There was little coverage that, the five students whom were charged with conspiracy and incitement of riot were all exonerated due to lack of evidence, or that the police officer died not from student fire, but the ricochet of Houston Police Department bullets
TERRANCE J. BOLTON
Descendant OF Dr. Ina A. Bolton-Brown
First Dean of Women and Dean of Students of TSU
A Journey Begins, A Legacy Continues…
TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
FOOTBALL
2011-2013
My journey to TSU began with my obligation and commitment to play football or their “ball club”. I was 31, fresh out of the military and still retained my vitality as a man on a mission of excellence. While it was clear to me that it was exciting to them that I, a service-member who had seen combat was now at their institution as a part of the family. I was dubbed “Sarge” the true example of a MAN-child. Also, I was labeled a true media and marketing tool but the authentic intention to put me in pads and on the field was far from sight. See, I could tear my team mates apart in practice all I wanted to. This was done to make them better against our opponents. I wasn’t allowed to suit up and play against other teams post red-shirt season. If I wasn’t any good, they never would have allowed me to be on the team at all. It was only revealed to me after my departure from the team that our coach’s main desire for me was to make HIS recruits better in their execution of plays as their tackling dummy. NOPE. Not doing it. But I made great friendships on that team.
TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
CHEERLEADING
2013-2014 | 2016-2017
Just and I did in high school, when the ill’s of football began to disappoint my agenda and activities, I turned to the athleticism of cheerleading. This is a sport that I have always been able to truly shine in. Welcomed, appreciated and given a true place to shine. I was trained by some of the worlds greatest stuntmen to hold any co-ed partner stunt. So much so till I was on of the most feared in my conference. The trainers made me great but my gorgeous stunt partners made me legendary. These young women literally placed their lives in my hands and it gave them the comfortability to pull the greatest of all acrobatic examples for all the fans to go crazy over. So to Channing Briggs, Elaney Miller, Alisha Thomas, Allanti Ford, Dani Wells, Amber Spencer, Cassandra Skinner, Destiny Flemmons, Jo Christine Vallair, Rayven Murphy , Alexis Banger, and Tyra Anderson. I love you my babies. Each of you individually made me want to do more, show more and be greater than I already was. I say we show them how its really done for the rest of our reunions during homecoming! Keep being the shining stars you are! Now my brothers were were just as important in my training. So Richard, Dave, Stacy, Nelson, Chris, Steven and Carlos I couldn’t have done any of that without you guys. I love all of you equally! WE’RE NOT DONE!
MR. KTSU 90.9 FM
THE KING OF RADIO
2011-2017
Radio is the main reason I was brought to Texas Southern in the first place. I have such a unique talent for radio, television and film. I took to it like a fish to water. being an entertainer, I wanted to learn the logistics of the business instead of how to make my craft even higher in theories and researched activities. I believe that the naturalism of a talent should be cultivated by the open feeling of freedom vs. what a book says it should yield. That is why communications radio, television and film was my choice for study in undergrad. I had millions of opportunities to showcase my talents and I thrived in doing so. My introductory to my radio audience cam courtesy of one of the greatest mentors and friends I’ve been blessed enough to secure. The legendary Ms. Donna Franklin, Programming Manager of KTSU 90.9FM. From her tutelage, I learned to rule over the airwaves, have several shows, conducted movie premieres and created my own version of brand marketing.
