Black Austin Tours

Black Austin Tours Tells the Nuanced History of Austin’s Eastside

Words by Abby L. Johnson Photo Courtesy of Black Austin Tours

In the face of swift change, one man is connecting this generation of Austin residents with East Austin’s historical roots.

Javier Wallace is a master storyteller, and East Austin is one of the subjects in which he is well-versed. His stentorian voice carries his powerful words with a conviction that invites all to listen intently. He speaks with the authority and emotion that arises from the intersection of personal experience and scholarly interest.

As the CEO, founder, and tour guide behind Black Austin Tours, Javier has made it his mission to ensure that Black history and contributions are visible to anyone who lives in or visits Austin. Javier, a born and raised Austinite, tells the stories about his hometown that are not always passed down or easily accessible. His walking tour begins at the African American Heritage and Cultural Facility on East 11th Street, and from that location, he takes guests on a physical journey through the Eastside, transporting them through time with his impressive oratory skills.

Javier’s family has deep roots here. His father, a Panamanian immigrant, came to Austin to play tennis at Huston-Tillotson in the 1970s, while his mother’s family has lived in Texas since the 1830s. Her family was brought to the Austin area as enslaved people and has been based in the city for many generations. Javier spent a great deal of his childhood in East Austin. The reason behind Javier’s mission is simple: “I’m Black, and I’m from here.”

Shortly after graduating college, Javier lived in Panama where he completed his master’s degree and co-founded his first tour company, AfroLatino Travel. This company focuses on exploring the history of the African diaspora in Latin America and laid the groundwork for Black Austin Tours’ inception.

Upon returning to the States to continue his studies as a PhD candidate at the University of Texas, he came to the realization that nothing like AfroLatino Travel existed in Austin. With the demographics of the area changing at such a rapid pace, it is of the utmost importance that people know “we were here.” With the goal of ensuring that East Austin’s history is not swept away or ignored, Javier started Black Austin Tours.

What most Eastsiders know today is not the East Austin Javier describes on his walking tour. As Javier transports “tourists” to the East Austin that began in 1928, they can begin to imagine the plan implemented by the City to displace its Black residents. He speaks of the community that came together under these terrible circumstances with respect and reverence.

Victory Grill is Javier’s favorite location to share with his tour group. This is where the discussion of gentrification and displacement becomes viscerally real. It is in front of the Victory Grill, he explains, that “tour takers can look around and see the glaring differences between the historical Black business and the surrounding buildings.”

“You have to imagine [The Victory Grill] is where Black people, who couldn’t enjoy any other aspect of this city [met],” he explains. So for me, that evokes emotion, and it makes me smile because I get to tell our story.”

It is Javier’s goal that tour-goers walk away with not only a sense of empowerment but also a sense of responsibility. For anyone who wants to learn more about the history of East Austin, Black Austin Tours is the place to start the process. However, the hard work of confronting this history does not end when tour-takers go home.

Anyone, from lifelong Austin residents to tourists visiting Austin for the first time, will find something surprising and perhaps inspiring during their time with Javier. He is a charismatic individual with a knack for connecting with people. He begins every tour by asking each individual, “Why are you here?,” a seemingly simple question that prompts great introspection. The Black Austin Tours experience is not a detached exercise in historical exploration but one that begs examination of personal connection to that history.

Contact:

javier@blackaustintours.com
@blackaustintours
blackaustintours.com