In 1873, as the dust of Reconstruction settled over Texas, two institutions took root in Austin’s soil, forever changing the landscape of Black achievement and spiritual fortitude. Huston-Tillotson University and Ebenezer Third Baptist Church, both celebrating their sesquicentennial this year, stand as testament to the enduring power of education and faith in the Black community.
Born in the same year, these institutions emerged when the promise of freedom was still fresh and fragile. While Huston-Tillotson began as two separate schools – Samuel Huston College and Tillotson Collegiate and Normal Institute – Ebenezer Third Baptist Church started as a spiritual haven for freed slaves seeking both salvation and community.
these pillars of Austin’s Black community continue their vital missions
Their parallel journeys mirror the broader story of Black progress in Central Texas. When Jim Crow cast its shadow, both institutions provided sanctuary – one nurturing minds, the other feeding souls. During the civil rights era, both served as centers of activism and hope, their buildings echoing with strategies for justice and songs of freedom.
Today, these pillars of Austin’s Black community continue their vital missions. Huston-Tillotson, now a thriving HBCU, shapes future leaders while honoring its legacy as Texas’s oldest historically Black university west of the Mississippi. Ebenezer Third Baptist remains a spiritual cornerstone, its congregation carrying forward a tradition of faith-based community service.
Huston-Tillotson’s impact reverberates far beyond its historic East Austin campus. As Austin’s only historically Black university, it serves as a crucial pipeline for diverse talent in Texas’s booming tech sector. The university’s STEM programs, particularly in computer science and environmental studies, are reshaping the narrative of who belongs in these rapidly growing fields.
Plans for an inaugural HBCU AI Conference are scheduled for April 1-3. This transformative gathering will bring together students, educators, researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, and community advocates to bridge the gap between HBCUs and the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
The university’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation has become a catalyst for Black business development in Central Texas, while its Adult Degree Program provides crucial pathways for working professionals to complete their education. These initiatives directly address Austin’s economic disparities while building generational wealth within the Black community.
Looking forward, Huston-Tillotson’s vision includes expanding its role as a thought leader in urban sustainability, social justice, and technological innovation. New research centers, enhanced community partnerships, and expanded scholarship programs aim to make higher education more accessible while maintaining the institution’s historic commitment to excellence and equity.
As Austin rapidly transforms, these institutions remind us that progress doesn’t erase heritage – it builds upon it. Their 150-year presence speaks to resilience, vision, and the power of community investment in its own future.
Visit HT’s website or Ebenezer’s for more information on each institution.
