Denton, Texas—I have come to realize, is a town scarred by a deep and dark history, especially within its Black community. At the turn of the 20th century, a vibrant community known as Quakertown flourished in the center of town. In the 1920s, white civic leaders began a campaign that radically altered the community’s topography. They moved to appropriate this land and demolish its buildings to create a large public park designated solely for white families. This act of dislocation would mark the beginning of years of strife and strength among Denton’s Black denizens.
As Black residents faced systemic discrimination, including being denied access to university dormitories, they adapted by expanding their homes to accommodate Black students. This grassroots effort showed the power of a community’s commitment to the importance of education and support for their teachers in the wake of tragedy. The 1960s brought a new spirit of hope and activism to Denton. Clark and the other Black women joined together to form the Denton Women’s Interracial Fellowship, bringing together women across racial lines to confront the struggles of segregation and disenfranchisement directly.
As the Fellowship members hit the ground running in Denton. They mounted get out the vote campaigns to register young Black voters and cultivated biracial coalitions to advocate for desegregating local lunch counters. They did not end their activism at the ballot box. They delivered postcards that called on residents to stand with every person’s right to rent, purchase or construct a house wherever they chose to live.
Clark reflected on the necessity of mutual support during those trying times:
“We had to help each other to survive.” – Alma Clark
In spite of these efforts, many Black families had to relocate out of Denton. They joined the migration of Black Americans who fled to other cities or states, looking for work and freedom. The systemic barriers they faced were pervasive.
In reality, back in the 1970s, the United States was facing a shortage of doctors. The unprecedented crisis compelled the government to ask for support. As a result, Indian-born medical doctors poured into American underserved communities. Though this provided much-needed relief to towns across America, this unfortunate situation magnified existing disparities in local access to healthcare.
At the same time, Denton watched as white leaders were able to start successful civic initiatives. They organized to get their streets in southeast Denton paved and provided with streetlights. For many in the community, these improvements were a painful reminder of how progress had always been so selectively enforced.
1994 would prove to be the most important year of Denton’s history. The Denton Record-Chronicle published this wonderful photo from a community meeting held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Denton Women’s Interracial Fellowship. The photo captured centuries of pain, protest, perseverance, and partnership.
Of course, in recent years Denton has taken big steps in the direction of reconciliation and toward a celebration of its diverse heritage. A Juneteenth celebration held in 2022 showcased the community’s commitment to acknowledging its past while embracing a more inclusive future.
Not everything about Denton’s journey has been serene. The diverse and progressive community has recently been targeted by a wave of white supremacist and anti-LGBTQ incursion intended to divide and conquer. The southern separatist organization League of the South had called for the rally. They even worked in concert with other white nationalist groups under the Nationalist Front umbrella, bringing to light the ever-so-prevalent race and identity issues that plague America.
One resident remarked:
“Yeah, that’s a part of our history.”
You’d be surprised as some voices foster a sentiment of deeper division, exposing this battle for a fight for one through many. A man from Brooklyn articulated his views on coexistence:
“We can accept that. We can absorb a certain amount of other cultures.”
That sense of confusion and frustration touches upon a complex landscape of race relations still alive and wrestling not only in Denton, but all across America.
“there’s no living with the other.”
A resident stated:
These two opposing views beautifully paint the intricate relationships at work in Denton’s community. They unmask the deep divisions that remain amongst its members.
“You gotta put your own air mask on first.”
He elaborated, saying:
“You gotta take care of yourself before you can take care of someone else. You can’t help people if you cut your own throat.”
In contrast, Clark invoked a powerful metaphor about community togetherness:
“It’s like making cornbread. You need meal, you need flour, you need baking powder, you need eggs. You need to put all those ingredients together to make that cornbread. You can’t do anything if you keep them separate.”
These contrasting perspectives underscore the intricate fabric that binds Denton’s community together while also pointing to the divisions that persist.