The community changes, but Carver is a constant

310 in the Shade
Jul 21, 2017 · 3 min read

By Rebecca Villarreal

Just as a tour guide would, Rosetta Pitts interprets and then recites stories to three small girls in tow at The George Washington Carver Museum. She points at photos and then moves on to the next exhibit. Stopping at the big map on the wall, her face falls. She points to Killeen and then crouches down, now at eye level with her granddaughters.

“Don’t forget our history,” she said to the girls. “We can’t forget where we came from.”

The Carver is located in a historic building in East Austin, whose changing demographics and rising rents have pushed out African Americans once relegated to the neighborhood. Museum administrator Para Agboga said using the term “community” is a little different now because of gentrification. But she added one thing she believes isn’t going away anytime soon is the Carver.

“The connection is that the Carver is still that stronghold of African American Pride and East Austin history, so we sort of end up being that last standing thing,” said Agboga, whose official title is museum site coordinator and theatre manager. “And so the impact is that the community, meaning whoever comes through the doors, gets to come in here and still experience that old East Austin feel and not be constantly reminded that things are changing so rapidly.”

The George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center located in East Austin and created in 1980 was the first Black museum in Austin. The historic building which is now the Genealogy Center was the first library the city had, located on 9th and Guadalupe. When the city decided to build a new building in 1933 they brought the original building to its current location on a truck. The original library then became the first colored library.

The Carver staffers reach out to the community through social media to promote their regular programs and activities. The Carver also offers educational programming, classes and events that spotlight African Diaspora.

“The institution carries the mantel of sharing the stories, attributes, talents, history and culture of this segment of the community,” said Faith Weaver, the culture and arts education coordinator. “Austin is diverse and it is important to have places where that diversity is preserved and celebrated.”

A special program offered during the summer is the Broadway Bound Theatre Camp that gives kids ages 7 to 17 years old an opportunity to perform in different productions. This summer the camp will be showcasing “Peter Pan” and “13 The Musical.” Agboga said when the program started it only had one show, but with 70 kids enrolling this year, the program had to start doing two. Unlike the other programs, this theatre camp is promoted through word of mouth instead of social media. Austinite Jasmine Jones said she had been to the Vance Boyd Theater at the Carver for other shows but didn’t know about the children’s productions until her godson invited her.

“I think it’s really a positive and creative outlet for kids to participate in,” said Jones, 26. “It gives them something else to do over the summer with other kids their age, and it’s something they can look forward to.”

Another program the Carver has provided is the SMILE program, a black and white photography workshop offered for kids ages 11 to 19. Photographer Julie Sparks Andrada teaches the program when it’s offered and has captured different events at the Carver, including the most recent Juneteenth Celebration.

“I thought the energy of the crowd was great for their Juneteenth Celebration,” Andrada said. “Everyone seemed to be enjoying the activities, particularly the children.”

Aside from its programs, the Carver still caters to those looking for a more individual experience. On any given day, a few visitors can be seen leisurely waltzing around the building, browsing the exhibits and flipping through the pages of Austin’s history.

Austin resident Joyce Alexander has always known about the museum because she lived close to it when she was young. She visited the Genealogy Center to trace her family’s history.

“It’s one of the few places here in Austin that the African American community can learn about their history and feel connected,” Alexander said.

And the center continues to be that special spot in town, Agboga said. She also adds that while it shouldn’t be highlighted, it should be remembered that the whole campus was born out of segregation.

“We are that place that was born out of adversity,” Agboga said. “But we have such a positive history. We don’t dwell on that adversity. We have risen above it and we’ve made something really good come of that.”

)
310 in the Shade

Written by

News and features on @UTAustin by @UTJSchool summer news writing students