It took a while for me to settle in for my walk. I did not feel quite as listless at the start. However, about a mile into it, I continued to feel more energetic and aware of my surroundings. I noticed as I paced down Comal Street through to Lady Bird Lake that I was passing through over a hundred years of East Austin history.
As many may know, East of I-35 historically has been the home of many African and Latino/Hispanic American families and communities.
There is iconic Victory Grill on 11th Street, which opened in 1945 as a spot for returning African American servicemen after World War II. Ike and Tina Turner, James Brown, Etta James, Janis Joplin, Billie Holiday, Chuck Berry and many other notable musicians played at the Victory Grill. As a result of segregation, there were several African American schools and colleges, a "Colored branch" library (George Washington Carver Library), and community churches. As African Americans left to live in the suburbs over the next twenty or thirty years, the area experienced a major decline.
There also is a strong presence of Mexican Americans in East Austin. Recently, it was estimated that well over a third of the Austin population is Hispanic/Latino. Traditionally, Mexican Americans in East Austin worked and lived from around 7th Street down to Cesar Chavez (aka 1st Street or Water Street) through to Lady Bird Lake on the Colorado River. A number of immigrant farmers came to Austin to become skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and educators among others. Several churches and well known families became well established including Austin's first Hispanic mayor, Gus Garcia, who came from East Austin.
Of special note is the site of the French Legation, which was completed in 1842. The site was developed after the Republic of Texas, since winning its independence, invited ministers from foreign countries to establish legations and develop diplomatic relationships. It was believed that the French Legation was part of a larger plot to annex large portions of the Republic of Texas to become a colony of France. The French Legation sits on twenty-one acres looking over downtown Austin just east of I-35.
So, within a five to seven mile walk, I was able to experience a wide swath of Austin's rich cultural history. At present, East Austin is experiencing a wave of gentrification as individuals and families come in to purchase properties throughout the community. There is an artist and musician community that resides, works, and plays on the East Side as well. This all makes for an interesting experience.
I'm proud to say that my mother's family also resided and went to college in East Austin years ago. My children go to the neighborhood school and I really feel at home as I walk through my community. Austin continues to be a huge adjustment for me from my time in Atlanta, New York, Massachusetts, and California. It has grown on me and I'll see where I am in the next several years. For now, Austin is the place for me.
I ended my walk with several sprints up a hill. I'll feel the muscle pain tomorrow or at least on the following day. I stayed on top of my water, enjoyed some relatively good food. Still, no sweets. It sounds corny, but I'm feeling good in my neighborhood.
