Mayor Frank Jackson presented “The History Of Prairie View,” in the Memorial Student Center Auditorium on Thursday, Feb. 15. The presentation is the first in a series of documentaries about the history of Prairie View and the surrounding area.
As the presentation got underway Jackson energetically stressed the importance of this event. “Simply from a historical context, it is impossible to talk about the history of Texas without including the history of Prairie View,” he said, making a point of stressing the importance of having a detailed account of one’s history.
Among the interesting facts Jackson mentioned were the origins of the land Prairie View sits, the central camp of Stephen F. Austin’s settling program, and later a large plantation by the name of Alta Vista. Jackson also touched on the unique struggles that past principals and presidents of Prairie View have had to face.
Questioned on the state of negativity students often fall into, Jackson said, “Regarding the future of Prairie View we have a wonderful future…I see Prairie View as a player in the international stage. There will be a period of enlightenment…and there will be a change.”
Jackson said that Prairie View, being the premiere HBCU in Texas, is a measuring stick of the state of the black community in Texas.
Jackson called the cultural “roadblock” on intellectualism among the black community the “Cotton Curtain” and stressed that before progress is to be made in the black community, this veil must be lifted or destroyed.
The presentation was followed by a brief question- and answer period. After the documentary, Jackson said that this was just the first in a series.
The next presentation will be on Feb. 26 in the architecture building auditorium.