Honoring Dallas history
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Just outside of downtown Dallas, Martyrs Park is now home to two new Texas Historical Markers recognizing four victims of racial violence in our city.
Unveiled yesterday, the first marker acknowledges Patrick Jenning, Reverend Samuel Smith, and “Old Cato” Miller — three enslaved African American men who were lynched after being falsely accused of starting a fire that destroyed most of Downtown Dallas. The second recognizes Jane Elkins, the first documented slave purchased in Dallas County and the first woman to be “legally” hanged in Texas.
Dallas, like much of the United States, has a complicated history as it relates to slavery and racism. Memorials like these honor past victims of racial violence and recognize the injustices in Dallas’ past.
Acknowledging such injustices is important for Dallas, but of equal importance is considering this city’s history with the proper perspective. Rather than weaponizing our history to undermine the great city that Dallas has become, the city should reflect on these past acts and recognize the incredible progress we have made.
Dallas was once a place where African American men and women were considered not as human beings, but as property, and had no legal recourse against racially motivated, false accusations. Today, Dallas is a city where a proud African American can serve as your mayor with strong support from people across the city.
On Wednesday, Dallas celebrated Juneteenth, which serves not only as an opportunity for cookouts and relaxation but also as an annual reminder of the milestones America has reached in securing freedom for people of all races.
Similarly, memorials such as the historical markers unveiled yesterday illuminate how far this city has come throughout its nearly 190-year history and inspire Dallas to continue becoming a city that guarantees freedom and opportunity for everyone.
District 4
Part of that continued effort is maintaining a close connection with local communities. To that end, Council Member Carolyn King Arnold took me on a tour of her district, District 4, on Thursday. The tour included historic neighborhoods like Cadillac Heights, Tenth Street, and the Bottom District, as well as iconic local businesses like Rudy’s Chicken — one of the best restaurants in Dallas!
A personal favorite stop of the tour was TW TrainWorx, a wonderful local company specializing in custom-model trains. President and CEO of TW Trainworx, Dorcie Farkash, was kind enough to guide a tour of their McGowan Street Studio. TW TrainWorks was founded in Dallas more than 40 years ago and has built custom trains for the annual “Trains at NorthPark” exhibit for over a decade. Dallas is proud to be home to businesses like TW TrainWorks with such deep roots in this city!
Local Art
On Tuesday, local photographer Joseph Haubert stopped by City Hall to deliver a stunning print of the iconic Dallas skyline. For years, Joseph has been capturing the beauty of this great city in his photography.
Local artists greatly enrich this city, and it’s important to support their work. In fact, my conference room and entire office feature an ongoing rotation of pieces by local photographers, painters, and other artists.
Thank you, Joseph, for personally paying a visit to drop off this wonderful photograph!
That’s all for today. Have a wonderful week and stay safe everyone!
