The St. John Community

Spanning a period from Reconstruction to the present, “The St. John A History”, uncovers the largely unknown history of the African American community of Northeast Austin, Texas. This book tells the story of those who settled in this area during the 1930s, persevering through scarcity, the absence of unrestricted voting rights, and the terrors of Jim Crow. Today, only a few of the original families remain of a community whose very identity is disappearing through the consequences of gentrification. This narrative is an effort to make known that history and the compelling case for why St. John Community’s story is worthy of preservation. This is the story of one community, but it might be told of many African American communities throughout the United States.