Freedmen's Town, Houston, TX | Exploring the rich history of this Black community

During my time in Houston, I learned that my great grandfather grew up just a few streets down from my AirBnb in the Fourth Ward! Upon further investigation, I discovered the rich history of his community, known as Freedmen's Town. In this video, I share what I learned about this incredible community built by newly freed Black Americans in 1865.
I also recently visited the grounds of Mitchelville, the FIRST Freedmen's Town in the entire U.S. Mitchelville was located on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Explore the area with me: • Let’s Explore Hilton H...
---------
Thanks for watching and please subscribe to my channel!
------
✈️Subscribe for more exploration inspiration and travel tips:
www.youtube.com/@Exploringwit...
--------------------
🤩Some of My Most Popular Videos:
5 Tips for Visiting White Sands National Park - • 5 Things You MUST KNOW...
Things to do in Birmingham, Alabama - • Things to do in Birmin...
--------------------
💸Save Money with My Codes (I earn a commission at no extra cost to you):
Pool, Yard, and Snow Accessories - www.poolcandy.net/ - use code COURTNEY15 for 15% off
--------------------
📧Let’s connect: [e-mail]
--------------------
Sound effects from zapsplat.com

[@jolene8497]

I had the privilege of helping to excavate part of the original portion of the cemetery there while in school for anthropology. There was erosion caused by a neighboring business using a great deal of water which flooded that portion of the cemetery. Such a shame. Graves were starting to slide and were at risk of becoming exposed. We carefully and respectfully excavated the remains that were at risk of exposure and they were reburied. I’ll never forget that experience as long as I live.

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Wow what an incredible experience! Thank you for helping to restore the cemetery. What meaningful work.

[@Ebonyb5]

Wow really that was out comfort zone something about it just seem more safe than the neighborhood at one point. We were really kids 8yrs old

[@austin6224]

So cool to learn something new about my city's past. I wish more local history like this was taught growing up in public schools. Thanks so much for the video!!!!

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Thanks for watching, Austin! So glad you enjoyed.

[@mytowntrill5441]

The Shape Center in 3rd Ward has African American history books on 4th, 3rd, 1st, and 5th Wards and Black history in Houston, Texas, and overall. Last i checked they had 2 locations.

[@veearell]

I'm trying to understand the place I live better. Thank you for taking the time to do the work to share this history. Stories like this are American history and can teach us so much about America today.

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Hi Virginia, thanks so much for watching and for the positive feedback! I definitely agree with you. I also thought it was super cool to learn that there are many ‘freedmen’s towns’ across the south with similar histories.

[@DavidBridwellMusic]

Fascinating, thanks for sharing, I hope to check out this area in more detail!

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Thanks for watching!

[@jamalljones37]

As a proud houstonian, I am so happy to learn the history of the city of Houston being born and raised in this great city it almost brings me to tears of joy 😊 I feel so grateful to be from Houston, Texas.Thank you Jesus Amen

[@tammyleonard8250]

I love learning our history. Thanks for sharing.

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Thanks for watching

[@evelynperez750]

i went to gregory lincoln school and will never forger 🙏🙏🙏😍😍love 4th Ward!

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Oh that's so cool! Thanks for watching the video :)

[@crishernandez9322]

what year u Graduate?

[@evelynperez750]

@crishernandez i graduated in 2008 there

[@oscarmadison8530]

You did a superb job with this video. What amazes me is how were those bricks made that they have lasted all these years. You're also a great storyteller and are easy to understand.

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

I really appreciate that! Thanks so much

[@aford6842]

This is a great video and what makes it even better is that a young lady made it. You did a great job and your speech at the beginning is excellent!

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Wow thank you so much! What a kind thing to say. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@tinkersplace8300]

Great video! I learned a lot too about the area. I definitely want to share this information with future guests.

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Hey Jessica! Thanks so much. I’m happy you enjoyed the video! So glad I stayed in your Airbnb

[@earthandtime5817]

Really enjoyed this video. Thanks for sharing your personal connection to the neighborhood.

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

I’m glad you enjoyed!! Thanks for watching

[@The_Selfcare_Specialist]

Nice video Courtney ❤❤❤ I enjoy learning about history and I stumbled upon this treasure!

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Thanks so much for your support! Glad you enjoyed

[@Jacyorr1]

This was awesome! So cool that you could stand on the land of our ancestors! ❤

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Hey! Yes it was really neat! Thanks for watching

[@keekonnect]

Thanks for this video. I learned some great history today

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Thank you for watching!

[@shantellw]

This is so cool! Houston is on my list to check out and I'll have to visit this community too

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Thanks for watching! It’s definitely a pretty incredible part of Houston. I also really enjoyed the city overall and I’m sure you’ll have a nice visit!

[@juansaldana84]

Thanks for the video born and raised htown texas in the 5th ward area great to know about the 4th ward area I also work from there that huge that we are doin on Allen parkway

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

thanks for watching! glad you enjoyed.

[@Ebonyb5]

This older lady use to keep me when I was a kid lived 3 houses from the Church she was a slave that helped build the street when she was kid. I never forget her name Ms. Bell she about 78yrs old back in around 90. Me and my cousins would play in the cemetery when we would get to go to the store. I remember watching Robo Cop being filmed outside her house. I thank God to still have the fresh memories or 4th ward it’s nowhere near the same. My grandfather was a mechanic at the shop on Grey it’s now a bar. But his wife still attend the church right there on Grey

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Thanks for sharing 😊

[@itsvegatime]

Where my Gregory Lincoln alumni at? 🙌🏼🎉 I miss that school.

[@PorkChopify]

THANK YOU FOR THE VIDEO I DID NOT KNOW THIS HISTORY

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Thanks for watching! Please subscribe 😊

[@dianeswann434]

Wow that is so cool to know granddaddy's history and to have been there💖 Also your filming and music are just wonderful🤩

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Thanks for watching!! Glad you enjoyed

[@jhondelv8891]

Sakpase belle moun. Nice video!

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Thanks for watching!

[@feliciamiller6832]

This video was awesome.. my family is from the 4th Ward area. Great work you've done. Subscribing now.

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Thanks so much! Really glad you enjoyed the video.

[@itsglen9646]

Well done!

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Thanks so much Glen!

[@prettyflytraveler]

Love this! My family is from Port Arthur and I am inspired to do some genealogical research.

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Thanks for watching! The research takes time for sure but is super interesting to do.

[@UrbanOne1960]

This is powerful!!!!

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Thank you!! And thanks for watching

[@cjbrown420]

Love the Isaac Hayes playing in the background I’m going to make a visit to 4th ward great info

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Thanks! I thought it was an appropriate song choice lol hope you have a good visit!

[@j.campbell8491]

I thought that was “Geto Boys Minds Playing Tricks On Me” in the background.

[@cjbrown420]

@@j.campbell8491 they sample that song to make it

[@linzierogers7479]

Went to high school in Fourth Ward nearly seventy years ago.

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Wow that’s incredible! Thanks for sharing. Hope you enjoyed the video.

[@linzierogers7479]

@@ExploringwithCourtney I did.

[@felixmendoza6916]

Woow I've been living in Houston and working all around Houston as well n never knew till now that place...so cool

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Thanks so much for watching!! So glad you enjoyed the video

[@felixmendoza6916]

@@ExploringwithCourtney very welcome sweetheart Bring more historical places

[@raylawillis466]

Do you mind if I use your video for our Black History Month with our school?

[@raylawillis466]

I will definitely ensure that you have credit for creating the video. I want to attach it with our Black History fact.

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Yes that sounds great! Please ask folks to subscribe :) Thanks so much!

[@raylawillis466]

@@ExploringwithCourtney will do

[@shonteealaran1149]

❤❤❤

[@ssbabymoses4758]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@sillydude3048]

Thats just insane

[@Mj-kb6ig]

Born and raised here. I remember the first time I visited 4th Ward was due to some church members (from Guatemala), started to rent a duplex around there. This was like 00/01. I was a teenager then. I remember walking around the neighborhood and saw the brick streets. Once I was in college, and read how rapid the gentrification changed the area is when I learned how long those bricks had been there. I'll say this much about Houston......it's a city that has NEVER valued history. It's a give and take situation. New Orleans is our cousin city, and they're on the other side of the spectrum in preserving as much as it can.....but it comes with a flat outlook. Houston decided a long time ago, it doesn't care. 2nd Ward is also all but gone too. And it's history reaches back to the Mexican revolution. I'm just glad the bricks are still there. Why don't more people know about the local history of Houston? What I've seen is, no one wants to attach the city to the Antebellum South. Some people don't want the city to be looked as a Jackson or Birmingham. We even have an intact slave sugar mill in Ft. Bend that developers restrict archeologists to study it. It's insane we have all this history in our city.

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Very interesting! I don’t know much more about Houston’s history but I’m sure I’ll learn more the next time I go. Thanks for your comment

[@Mj-kb6ig]

@@ExploringwithCourtney Texas is so big, and Houston's history gets muddy to some. It's one of the most unique Southern cities. It's a melting pot now. But originally it shared much of the culture Southern settlers brought. We're not a West Texas desert. We share so much with Louisiana. Our nickname is the Bayou City. Its where we mix in with the Tejano culture. But if you take a tour of Galveston, it's architecture resembles most other notable Gulf Coast towns (Biloxi, Gulf Shores). It holds one of the oldest Mardi Gras celebrations. Houston is where the South, Mexico, and Texas all combine. 2nd Ward was unique in of itself, in that it was a Jim Crow segregated Latino neighborhood. If you get the chance to see the movie "Giant" about a West Texas oil tycoon, its with Elizabeth Taylor and Jim Dean, it touches on how Mexicans were also part of these segregation laws. Like I said. I think Texans want to downplay how Southern it used to be. Despite the fact Galveston, Houston, and the rest of East Texas have more in common with Lousiana than say Phoenix.

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

@@Mj-kb6ig Thank you for watching :)

[@Scorpio8530mp]

I was raised in 4 ward on Andrews st i had a great child hood

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

That’s so cool! Thanks for watching

[@ferrarig1763]

I used to walk to and from GLEC from Ruthven @ Crosby which was pretty far

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Thanks for sharing :)

[@peratabradley1946]

Hey there Im born and raised out there loved the video. My fight is on ill effects of gentrification but I would love to know more about your family who once stayed there as well as any info about the facts of that time. I am creating a mural to represent the past, present and future of the neighborhood. Lets chat!

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Awesome! Thanks for reaching out. I’d love to chat. :) Please send me an email at [e-mail]

[@mytowntrill5441]

Go to the Shape Center in 3rd Ward. They have all of Houston black/African-American history on Freedman's Town and the other Wards and our history in general in good detail.

[@dwardtrks1]

💯🙏🏾👸🏽🙌🏾

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Thanks! Hope you enjoyed

[@dahveed62]

There are still brick paved streets in the 4th.

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Thanks for watching!

[@neal6473]

You look just like your great grandfather.

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

☺️☺️ haha thanks, and thanks for watching!!

[@soufwesthoustontx]

Is there a back story on how the land was sold/acquired from previous residents?

[@abrilgreen38]

Could you tell me the address of the original houses with the red bricks? I’m trying to visit it tomorrow.

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Hi! The shotgun houses are at the intersection of Victor St. and Gillette. Andrews and Wilson is the intersection of the red bricks with a few other historic houses. Enjoy your visit!

[@abrilgreen38]

@@ExploringwithCourtney Thank you so much!

[@abrilgreen38]

@@ExploringwithCourtney I went and it was soooo amazing to see this part of our Black History. Definitely was in awe. I had to touch the bricks, numerous times.

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

@@abrilgreen38 yay!! I’m so happy to hear that! I really want to do the walking tour with the RBHY museum once they reopen.

[@abrilgreen38]

@@ExploringwithCourtney likewise!

[@mikedavis218]

Didn't Lightning Hopkins (legendary blues musician) grow up in that neighborhood?

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Thanks for watching, Mike! I'm not sure... just Googled it and looks like he did grow up in Houston. Possibly the 3rd ward (also where Beyonce lived lol) but I can't tell for sure.

[@ferrarig1763]

I lived right behind Bethel Baptist Church in a duplex in the nineties. Pastor Robert O Robertson baptized me in 1993. Me and Peanut would play karate and football in the large field in the back of the church.

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Wow very cool, thanks for sharing! I really loved exploring this community and can't wait to return. Thanks for watching :)

[@crishernandez9322]

4th wArd 4/Life

[@korop3051]

Still in Houston?

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

No I'm not. Thanks for watching!

[@whocares-sq7zh]

Haha I live right there next to that house.

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

lol! Hope you enjoyed the video :)

[@BB-je8hm]

thank you for this history lesson. MBAGA!

[@lawrencebrazier4888]

Is there anyway to guarantee no further demolition of history is done to this area

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Thanks for watching! Looking to get involved with preservation organizations and connecting with the local representatives is probably a good place to start.

[@Moneyg73]

Of course they tear down the neighborhood. SMH. Different city, same story across America.

[@ExploringwithCourtney]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@jus3278]

Peace to 4th Ward Freedmen's Town. Not Midtown.