Bulldozed and Betrayed: Juneteenth History on Galveston Island
Galveston has a rich history for Black Americans as the birthplace of Juneteenth. But the foundation that is supposed to preserve the city’s history has been accused of excluding key Black leaders and community members from the process. They believe their history has been BULLDOZED AND BETRAYED.
Bulldozed and Betrayed: Juneteenth History on Galveston Island
“With the stroke of his pen today, President Biden signed into law a federal holiday for an event that many Americans had never even heard of until a few years ago.”
You would think a story about freedom wouldn’t be the least bit controversial.
Like the delayed freedom that rang out for Texas slaves on June 19, 1865, two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
“And now Texas lawmakers are spending seven million dollars to help build this Juneteenth museum in Galveston. So why are all these folks down there so mad?” Wayne Dolcefino told the camera.
“Is this going to be the Juneteenth museum we’re going to use as a cash cow? Are you going to use us again for another 250 years?” tarris Woods said.
It’s an ugly fight, and it’s triggered an investigation of the Galveston Historical Foundation.
“You know, GHF has a long commitment in history, through its Afro-American Heritage Committee, of documenting Afro-American history,” Clay Rogers said.
In mid-October, the Galveston Historical Foundation announced plans for a Juneteenth museum.
But at that party, the foundation president bungled the name of his own committee involved in the creation of the museum.
“It’s Afro-American Heritage Committee of documenting Afro-American history,” Rogers said.
You figure a guy in charge of island history would kinda know that “Afro American” is a term that’s not used anymore.
But that’s not the only reason why members of the Old Central Carver Neighborhood Association are so mad.
They claim they were intentionally excluded from the press conference.
“Most people that watched the press conference have no idea that we have been trying to strengthen Galveston’s role as the definitive destination for the birthplace of Juneteenth for years. Our personal sacrifices collectively are not less than others,” Sam Collins said.
And they are directing fire against the Historical Foundation.
Take a look at the foundation board — Tarris Woods calls it tokenism.
“That tokenism — don’t frame me that way. Two people will go, ‘Well, we represented the Black community!’ Hell, you didn’t represent the Black communities,” Woods said.
Woods is the president of the Galveston County Coalition for Justice, a former councilman and a former president of the Galveston NAACP.
“Tired of people telling my story. Let me tell my story, and you shut up and listen. You don’t know anything about me and being African American,” Woods said.
Working alongside Woods is this guy.
Sam Collins — online folks call him “Professor Juneteenth.” He’s been working on the museum project for four years.
“He worked, he sincerely worked. He would invite the school principal, the mayor, or the city council out. What he would do, he would bring the exhibits and models to them,” Woods said.
Their idea was to use the building of the former La Morgan Elementary School, a building rich in Black history.
It only seemed right that a Juneteenth museum would occupy that building, honoring the school’s legacy.
“So we felt that, well, everything will connect here. We will have that legacy that we can build on,” Woods said.
That dream ended June 4, when Galveston ISD board members voted “yes” to demolishing the La Morgan Elementary School to build office spaces.
“All those in favor, please raise your right hand. Okay. The motion is approved unanimously.”
Including a “yes” from this guy — David O’Neal, the only African American on the Galveston ISD board.
“The last African American school named after African Americans, and Mr. O’Neal, who is also African American, voted to sell the school as well,” Woods said.
Complaints about Black leaders being excluded from the Juneteenth museum launch showed up in the island newspaper, The Galveston Daily News.
But another article quickly followed — a guest commentary from David O’Neal, stating that Collins and Woods, well, they didn’t meet the invitation requirements. He said they had fragile egos simply because they were not invited to a press conference.
“I don’t know why David O’Neal would make those types of erroneous statements, but he did,” Woods said.
Another proposed location for the Juneteenth museum was Avenue M and 27th Street, where Booker T. Washington Elementary once stood.
The empty lot is nestled in a neighborhood rich in Black history, surrounded by the Rosenberg Library, Jack Johnson Park, and the Central Cultural Center.
“The oldest Black school in the state of Texas. So now, how wonderful it would have been to have your Juneteenth museum here, and across the street you have the oldest Black school in the state of Texas?” Woods said.
It was going to be more than a museum, a space for community service opportunities, educational lectures, and jobs in the community.
“We have to realize that we’re entertaining the world. This is going to be a national, worldwide museum. These people are going to come from other countries,” Shon Arthur said.
Students from Prairie View and Galveston A&M even created blueprints for the building — 3D models for a place where history would not just be remembered, but reborn on its original ground.
But one of the leading voices against using the property at 27th was again Mr. O’Neal.
So this fight goes deeper than a press conference.
“We gave them the blueprints. They saw how big this holiday really can be. And then, when we made them understand how this project would put heads in beds, enhance high-tax revenue, and bring people through tourism and all these other things,” Arthur said.
“It’s capitalism, mixed with racism,” Woods said.
And it’s triggered a deeper examination of the way the Historical Foundation does its financial business.
The foundation owns the Shearn Moody Plaza, the Seaport Museum, Bishop’s Palace, and the tall ship Elissa.
“You have been losing money on museums year after year after year. And yet, though, you’re going to tell me that you can take control of a Juneteenth museum?” Woods said.
Public records show the CEO, Dwayne Jones, is paid $170,000 a year.
The payroll is $2.5 million.
“We’ve been trying to talk to Dwayne Jones for weeks, but he’s very busy and can’t grant us an interview. Kind of makes you wonder how the foundation down in Galveston was just awarded a gold medal for transparency. Really?” Dolcefino told the camera.
“We want to build up our community with a Juneteenth museum. We want an incubator for other jobs. So we have plans also, Mr. Galveston Historical Foundation,” Woods said.
Community members like Shon Arthur are asking for more than just an invite to a press conference.
“We’re looking for engagement and transparency, you know, on this pathway to this Juneteenth museum. And it’s really important that the community be a part of this plan,” Arthur said.
That’s why folks are asking for a lot more than just an invite to a press conference. They want the museum project handled out in the open. So do we.
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