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  • 35 minutes ago
On Black History Bike Ride’s 6th annual Juneteenth Ride, led by Talib Abdullahi, hundreds of cyclists bike together to learn under-told stories of Black history. From the State Capitol to Austin’s only HBCU to iconic venues like Victory Grill, this journey through history explores the transition from plantation sites to freedom communities, highlights the impact of the 1928 City Plan’s “Negro District” in east Austin, and celebrates the contributions of leaders of the Black community like Jacob Fontaine and Barbara Jordan. Through interviews with local Austinites and thought-leaders like Peniel Joseph and Tara Dudley, an inspirational story of resilience and Black excellence unfolds.
Transcript
00:00History is being erased right before us every single day when you wake up.
00:04If we don't preserve black stories, we lose ourselves.
00:09Nobody is telling it, then how will we know?
00:11If we stay silent, we will die.
00:15Can you hear my voice?
00:17In the current moment, I feel called. Somebody's got to do it.
00:22How many of y'all here know what Juneteenth is?
00:23Black History Bike Ride, it's a social ride to raise awareness of black history in Austin.
00:30Get on the bike and follow me. We'll learn.
00:32Austin is rich in terms of its black history. We just don't know as much.
00:36We talk about Harriet Tubman, Dr. King, Malcolm X, but what about the local people?
00:42We're standing at the Barbara Jordan Monument. She was a very early trailblazer.
00:46Without the labor and contributions of African-American people, the city of Austin would not exist.
00:52We are Austin. We are Austin's history.
00:55There are just very fascinating stories that makes this a more beautiful place to live once we know them.
01:00There's a history here. You can access it, and it can give you strength.
01:08We are the torchbearers. We cannot be stopped, and we will not be silenced.
01:11What's been happening with gentrification is the uncomfortableness to talk about what's going on.
01:18Blacks are leaving Austin, Texas.
01:21These forces of displacement are ongoing.
01:24So what do you want to do about that now?
01:27We're trying to create the city we want to live in.
01:30Be the change that you want to see.
01:32And eventually, a change will come.
01:40The truth being told is crucial.
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