February 3, 2025 • 29 mins
Step back in time and uncover Houston’s rich Black history with The Heritage Society! In this episode, host Blanca Quezada talks with Martha Whiting-Goddard, Kijana Wiseman, and Dr. Ron Williams—three remarkable individuals dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of Houston’s African American pioneers.
Meet Martha Whiting-Goddard, a descendant of Reverend Jack Yates, one of the founders of Juneteenth and a key figure in preserving his historic home. The Yates House, now located in Sam Houston Park, is a UNESCO Site of Memory, showcasing the resilience and achievements of formerly enslaved people. Martha’s passion for history ensures that these stories are passed down to future generations.
Be inspired by Kijana Wiseman, a teacher, entertainer, and oral historian best known as The Griot. She brings history to life through music and storytelling, portraying historical Black women in The Heritage Society’s “From Plantation to Emancipation” tour. Her reenactments transport audiences back in time, sharing Black women's emotions, struggles, and triumphs throughout history.
Hear from Dr. Donald Williams, a retired U.S. Army First Sergeant and lifelong Texas historian, as he unravels the history of Houston’s six wards, explaining their origins and how they shaped the city’s Black communities. His dedication to documenting Black history helps ensure that these important stories are never forgotten.
Don’t miss the chance to experience history firsthand! The Heritage Society’s special Black History Month tour, "From Plantation to Emancipation," takes visitors through three historic homes—each telling a unique story of Houston's Black community before and after slavery. Featuring live reenactments, emotional storytelling, and historical insights, this tour highlights the strength, resilience, and contributions of African Americans in Houston.
Visit https://www.heritagesociety.org to learn more about their Black History Month events and upcoming Platinum Jubilee celebration.
Key Topics Covered:
- The legacy of Reverend Jack Yates & his role in Freedmen’s Town
- How Houston’s six historic wards shaped the city’s Black communities
- The Yates House, a UNESCO-recognized site, and its significance
- The Heritage Society’s “From Plantation to Emancipation” tour
- Special Black History Month events & educational programs
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
We have a lunch and learn on February
20th where doctor David
McCollum from Rice is coming to discuss
his Pulitzer Prize winning book about an enslaved
woman and how she gained her freedom. And so it
will be on our our website. It's at 12
(00:21):
noon. And, once a month, we have these lunch and learns, and we
try to bring in educators from outside
and other people to tell to discuss
things that are of importance to the community as
a whole.
(00:44):
Thank you for joining us for another episode of spotlight Houston, where we bring you
the best people, places, and events in Greater Houston. In this episode, we're
diving into Houston's Black history with the Heritage Society. We're
joined by Martha Whiting Goddard, Kejana Wiseman, and
doctor Don Williams. Three incredible guests who are preserving and
sharing the powerful stories of Houston's African American pioneers.
(01:06):
Martha is a descendant of Reverend Jack Yates, one of the founders of Juneteenth
and has played a key role in preserving his historic home, which is now in
the UNESCO site of memory. Kejana is a teacher, performer, and
oral historian known as the griot, who brings
history to life through storytelling and reenactment at the Heritage
Society. She is also a direct descendant of general Sam Houston and
(01:29):
has worked to preserve her family's legacy, including a historic school for
black children built by her great grandfather in Walker County.
Doctor Williams, a retired US army first sergeant and Texas
historian, will take us through the history of Houston's 6 historic
wards and their impact in the black community. We'll also explore
the Heritage Society's special black history month program from plantation
(01:51):
to emancipation, which takes visitors on an emotional journey
through 3 historic homes with library enactments. This is
Spotlight Houston episode 123 with with an
original air date of Monday, February 3, 2025.
Please note that we edited this interview for time. Spotlight Houston is
brought to you by Storyzone Media. And now here's your host, Blanca
(02:13):
Quesada. Well, hi, everyone, and welcome to Spotlight
Houston. You know, for me, history is really important because
we have the opportunity to look back in time
and, you know, actually see or hear about all the
brave and creative people that shaped us
personally, our country or city, as well as our
(02:35):
communities. So February, to me, is very
interesting because it's Black History Month, and there's so
much history. This is when we need to take the time
to recognize, to remember, and honor the contributions
of this community. One of the organizations that I really, really
like has been helping Houston to conserve the
(02:57):
city's history, and that is the Heritage Society,
which is right almost at the edge of downtown.
And they have saved 10 historical homes that are
beautiful by relocating them to Sam Houston
Park. And whenever we have events out there, you can
actually see them. And they're just gorgeous.
(03:20):
So they've saved these 10 historical homes and as
well as having a museum gallery exhibits and
events that will help us understand the rich
tapestry of Houston's heritage. So I'm
honored today to introduce you to 3 incredible
people that I'm so happy that I met or that I'm meeting
(03:42):
actually, are leaving their their huge mark
in our city for future generations
and who will give us more insight into why we
celebrate Black History Month. So first of all, it is
my privilege to introduce you to Martha
Whiting Goddard, who is a descendant of one of
(04:04):
the founders of Juneteenth, Reverend Jack Yates. He
lived in this beautiful historic home that was relocated
from the 4th ward to Sam Houston Park by,
their family. She is also a consultant and programs
developer for the Heritage Society and the
June Society's Juneteenth program. Jack Yates
(04:27):
House has been preserved and managed by the Heritage Society in the city of
Houston since 1994, and it tells the history
of the years of establishment, education, and
progress following Juneteenth in Houston. It has been
noted as the most famous house in Texas by
Reader's Digest for 3 years. The Yates
(04:49):
House is one of the Heritage Society's 3 houses
that is designated by UNESCO. And if you don't know what
UNESCO means, that is the United Nations
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization as a
site of memory for the enslaved people's route
project. And that I I can't wait to hear more about it from
(05:12):
Martha. But, then we also have here
a retired, incredible man as well.
He is a US Army First Sergeant and he has
done so much and he is a lifetime member
of the Heritage Society and and and also an
amazing, Texas historian. He travels throughout
(05:34):
Texas, studying and photographing historical
sites, including homes, historical markers, and
cemeteries of Texas families. He also
is connected to other historical organizations such
as Sam Houston Memorial Museum.
And he stays pretty busy. And he is getting to write a book
(05:56):
pretty soon, and I think it's going to be great. I can't
wait to see it. And last but not least is
Kajana Wiseman. She's a teacher, an entertainer,
a very charismatic person. She is known as
the I hope I'm gonna pronounce this right, the griot?
Griot. Griot. The griot. What does that mean?
(06:19):
Singing storyteller. Griots were the world's first historians, the
first educators, and the first entertainment. And they
usually worked a 25 mile circuit in Africa going from
village to village, and they kept the lineage of the people.
And if you go to Exodus, you can see a a a a song
of a griot with this man beget this man beget this
(06:40):
man. Well, that was the that was a tradition because they didn't have
books, and so the griot was your walking book. Yeah.
Yeah. That makes sense. It makes sense. And you're
also an incredible singer. Just
incredible. You have an amazing voice. And you're recognized
for your performances. And she also
(07:03):
helps the Heritage Society by performing as an
actor during their tours. Yes. The elevated
tours. Yeah. Yeah. So welcome to the show. It's
great to have you all here to help us understand a little
bit more about what Black History Month means to you and
the black community. So Martha, how about we start with
(07:25):
you? How does it feel to be to
being a Jack Yates descendant? Do you feel a certain responsibility
to try to walk in his steps? And and what what
is it about him that inspires you? Well, yes.
I I feel a responsibility because that's
why my mother and her 5 daughters, of which I am
(07:47):
1, we donated the house to the
Heritage Society to make sure that
the stories from this family would be retold
to expand people's knowledge of history, especially
among both the both well,
the diverse population of Houston and all the people who come
(08:10):
here to visit so they could see what formerly
enslaved people were able to do here shortly
after the the end of the civil war. And
because Jack had 11 children,
they had a lot of different things going on.
In other words, he has most of his children were teachers,
(08:32):
but he also had, entrepreneur
and entrepreneurs and printers
and people who were very industrious. And
so even though his family came here from Virginia,
they always still kept in touch with each other. And so
it's kind of like his his family and
(08:55):
his story has been going on a long time. And
so that house is like the embodiment of
what he and his relatives who
came with the Civil War army. The
Union Army came here, and they were able to build for he and his
family to live in. So so he actually a continuing
(09:16):
story. Yeah. So, actually, he was the one
that kind of created Freakman's Town. Well, he
was he was instrumental in it. Yes. Because he,
he purchased property there in 18/69
that is still there. He was able to work with
because of his ability to
(09:39):
to get along with people and how he
knew how to work with other people. Because from the
time he was a child, his his best friend was
was someone who was who was white, who was really his
enslaver son because the mother took care of both of
them. And so both Jack and he. And so
(10:02):
one taught the other to read, and they just, you know,
continued along with each other. And so when people were
being free, his his enslaver
freed all of the slaves that were on his
plantation. Jack came here because his wife was
still enslaved, and that's how he ended up coming to Texas.
(10:25):
Otherwise, they would probably still be in Virginia because his
his brother and his brother-in-law who came here and
helped him build the house as union soldiers, they went back
after so long to Virginia, and they didn't stay here.
But some of one of their descendants and some of
their descendants live here now. So, Martha, what does
(10:47):
Black History Month mean to you? Well, it
means that the history of of our
people is being remembered and celebrated
and and discussed and shared with the entire
country because there is so much that we have
given to building and continuing to contribute to the
(11:11):
country. It was the day when I was a child. It was Black History
Day. Well, but that was in school. But I was
saying, Kelly, I remember that. It was a day, not a not a week
or a whole month. That that may have been here in Texas. It was really
supposed to be a week. Week. It was really a week. It is Texas.
Yeah. Yeah. But but that's what I'm saying. It was a week because you would
(11:32):
have celebrated church, and then there was one day at
school that you might have a celebration. But it
it it went from there until they, sort of
in the seventies, people started adding on more time
to make it a month. And then in 1986,
president Reagan made it officially into a
(11:54):
month celebration. And so it's at the point now that there
is through the association.
OSLA really kinda started this when it had a different
name. But they have a topic that they
celebrate each year so that so it's not the same
thing all the time. It's something different. So you
(12:16):
learn something new or something more every year. And that's
what it's supposed to do, educate everybody about the
contributions of African Americans to
America. Yeah. For example, this year's theme is on is concentrating
on labor. The unions this year, they're telling
people the story of labor unions in this
(12:38):
country that black people have started and
contributed to because we've had unions
since the 19 thirties. My father joined the union.
And so it's like because he joined the union,
he has daughters who joined. It's kind of like, if you saw
somebody do it, you just continue to do it because
(13:02):
you knew it contributed to your to your life here. Right.
So that's what that that's what this year is about. It remembers
we sing songs and have, you know, programs
and things that that tell you about our, you know,
our history in other ways. But when they have different
topics, it tell it educates everybody, which is what's
(13:24):
important. And since you have an educator here, doctor
Don, he can tell you what they do in the schools
now. Because when we went to school, as Kejana
said, we had maybe one day at school that they
reminded you of. But since it's a full month, there
are activities all over the city and Yeah. You know, all over the
(13:46):
country. Most and in 27 other countries. Yeah.
Well, since you since you work or or
volunteer at the Heritage Society, what is the
Heritage Society doing to to make sure
that they can recognize this month
and and tell those stories? Well, we have our
(14:09):
extended tour, which Kejana is our
chief reenactor from the plantation to emancipation.
And we we highlight the
the 3 homes that were recognized
as sites of memory of the slave trade, which are
(14:29):
the Kellogg Noble House built in 1847, the
4th Ward Cottage from 18/18/66,
I think, and the Yates House from 18 70.
And so she's telling a story of
someone who would have been in those homes
(14:50):
during that period. Yeah. I'm I'm I'm always
amazed at how these homes still exist. You
know? Well, the city owns them, and the Heritage
Society owns what's in them. And because the
houses have been moved there from other places, doctor Dawn needs
to tell us about the wards that were, like,
(15:13):
the houses came from where black people lived, 3rd ward
and 4th ward. Doctor Dawn? Yes. Yeah. Well
Good. You're wonderful. In in in that part that she had mentioned, I'm
an educator and my the the class I teach now is
African American studies. Here in the United States, we we piloted it at
first and now it's a it's officially a class that we teach at high school
(15:35):
level, and so I'm glad to have that. We're talking about the wards, you know,
I'm I'm I'm actually pretty passionate about the wards because
of the 6 wards that we have, I've actually lived in 3 of them. That
is the 2nd ward, the the 3rd ward, and part of the 4th
ward. See that and Houston was was, actually founded in in 18
36, and somewhere around about 18 37, then the
(15:56):
founders actually wanted to divide the political, you know, to
to to do a political divide. And it it was pretty
small, you know, it was Houston was only about 9 9 or 10, you
know, square miles in length and everything else. So they actually divided
it. If you go downtown, you can see where it's divided at, and this
was in 19 correction, 18/40. If you go on Main
(16:18):
Street in Congress, right there in the middle of that, that divides the
first four wards. The first ward being up where UHV
is at. The second ward being down down south more more
likely where the navigation goes to where the the
original NIFA's and the Esplanade. Then you have the third
ward, which is where which is where the u of h and the TSU
(16:40):
is is is at. And then you have, of course, the 4th ward. The 4th
ward is is actually where the Heritage Society is at, the
Freedman's Town, and also the Antioch Church. The Freedman Town
obviously was one that most of the blacks had the opportunity
to, buy property and then those kinds of things. But
obviously the second ward was probably, it was more of a
(17:02):
Hispanic town, but much later, but they they started moving into
those particular areas. Then you had the the the 5th war. The 5th
war was created after Houston had expanded a little bit. And 5th war
definitely started off as white. It was mostly Irish and it had a lot of
cattle, also had had the continent. And we made the 6th
ward. The 6th ward has it they they may have some blacks
(17:25):
in it, but not not a lot of them. As a matter of fact, one
of the most famous people from there is Mary Kay. Mary Kay actually
lived there. Wow. And so what does
Black History or Heritage Month mean to you? Well, Black
History Month is is it actually means a whole lot to me. It is the
1 month and, you know, people talking about how it's the shortest month of
(17:46):
the year. No. It was made to coincide with Abraham Lincoln and and
Frederick Douglass' birthday. And so it just happened to be a short month.
But to me, it's a time, you know, it's a bleed off for me because
I do celebrate doctor King, but then we go into the Black History
Month. It's a time that we concentrate on something new every every year. Okay?
Yeah. Came on with the lesson that we learned before, but we also talk
(18:07):
about that. And I would say it's a time for me to dig up
as much history as I can locally, obviously, but all around and
I try to, you know, again, get at least 5 or 6 different lessons
every single year that I studied black history. Yeah. And
reflect on the lives that came before us. Yeah. Yes.
Most definitely. The difference they made for us.
(18:29):
So Alright. Miss Jana. Yes,
ma'am. For you, what does African or or Black
History Month mean to you? It's a time to return to our roots.
You know. I I I I I'm the great great
great granddaughter of General Sam Houston. And Oh,
wow. So I have I have the property in
(18:51):
Huntsville where his grandson built the first school
for African Americans because my grandfather married a woman
who looked like she came from Nigeria. And my grand my great
grandfather knew that his his little chocolate grandchildren would not be allowed to get
an education because Right. They weren't educated. They weren't building schools for
black people in Texas back in 1921. We're
(19:13):
talking 19 twenties. Mhmm. Okay? Yeah.
So and so the the and you've heard of the Rosenwald Schools?
Yes. Okay. Well, that's the property that I have. It was the
first it was the first, public school for black children in
Walker County. And so I do an Earth Day Festival there every
year, in April, of course. But and it's called
(19:35):
Return to Our Roots because I I really had I
my journey really began during COVID because, you know, I performed in
a bunch of I've performed in 23 countries, and I and
and and I usually, you know, I'm gone. But COVID wouldn't
would let me go anywhere. Yeah. So I went to
Huntsville, and I said, you know, I've been paying on this land that my mother
(19:58):
that my mother's school land. I don't even know where it is. And I went
and I found it, and we found the well, and we found the the footprints
of the school. And and and and and there were still a
lot of people who were alive that and who went to that
school. They're mostly in their nineties now and, they come they
come out every year and their children come out because the thing is
(20:19):
that if we don't share if we don't if we don't
unearth our own heritage, nobody's gonna do it for us. Nah. You
know? So And and and so it's it's vital that we
continue to remind people and to learn because the this
past I think about 2 days ago, I saw a TikTok on
well, maybe it was Facebook. I don't know. Anyway, it was on the
(20:41):
wife of Frederick Douglass and and how much she
contributed to his success. And, you know, behind every great man, there's a
greater woman. Sorry. That's not Yeah. Yeah. The
truth of the matter is that if that that there's there's so many
stories that that are lost and buried, and it
gives us an opportunity to really reenact and and
(21:03):
remind people and and for some people, inform them
of their heritage. Yeah. So Congratulations for
for having and and preserving that land. Oh, yeah.
I was I I was I was bored, and I needed to
go someplace. And and so my husband bought me a a
little RV, and I've I've I've put it on the land. And
(21:26):
since I don't have a well, I use air water from a from a
a dehumidifier, but it's there and it's it's and
people know about it now, and they're remembering Rosenwald.
And I hope you because mister Rosenwald contributed $63,000,000
of his money to build 5,537
schools in 15 Jim Crow states for black people. And
(21:48):
they and he's just beginning to be recognized for it. And so my
my property is on the national register as a Rosenwald property.
But that that has but and so the by being asked
by by Martha and Anna and and and
Allison to come down and portray, which is my
profession. I am a griot. I'm that's what I do when I perform in
(22:12):
other countries. But to to be able to do that in Houston on a
regular basis is is phenomenal. It's it's wonderful. It's
invigorating, and and people are beginning to find out about it. Yeah. So
You've been recording the stories of the students that used to go there?
Oh, at oh, yes. Yes. In fact, my mom was
1. You see, she she went there. She was They told me that she used
(22:34):
to sneak into the schoolhouse when she was, like, 4
years old. They couldn't find her. They would always find her under somebody's
desk at that school. And then when she was finally able to go there,
she loved it. Then she her her grandfather, John Wesley
Wilson, was a professor at Sam Houston State Teachers College, his
his grandfather's college. But Sam's Sam's daughter
(22:57):
no. Sam's Sam's doctor's granddaughter
married Sam's grandson, and that created the
Kittrell Wilson dynasty as you were as it were in
Huntsville. And so Yeah. It it I've unearthed so many
stories. And if you people can go to rosenwaldacres.com
and and read them. But, you know, the the the the beautiful thing about
(23:20):
the Heritage Society is that this is this is not way up in the woods.
It's downtown in Houston, and it's talking about the
history of Houston. Right. And that's what's most important.
When when people are walking up, whether they're from Pawhuska, Oklahoma
or Louisiana or Paris, the tourists who come in to see the
program, I usually welcome them first with
(23:45):
freedom.
(24:10):
Such a long
ways from home.
That was fantastic. My husband did a little video of it with me on
the porch, and I didn't know he was doing it at the time. I was
just warming up my voice. But he went from that cottage, and he
(24:30):
he he panned up past the trees in the heritage
to the building that is behind. I think that's the heritage building, isn't it,
or something like that? Yeah. The Yeah. Text the That that that
tall tall building, and then he comes back down, and it's a
long way from home. It really is. And and so,
you know, the the the the thing is that my talents are
(24:53):
are uniquely suited for this kind of of of
of interaction, and I'm an edutainer more than an
entertainer. We have to continue to tell our stories,
and that's what this is all about. All of this comes together as
one one one lesson of of
of of sacrifice and and sanctuary.
(25:15):
What I also find interesting is that when we are talking
about Black History Month or any other
culturally diverse groups that have their their
months being recognized, we usually hear about the men and
their contribution, but women also
made great contributions. And then Well, that's why the
(25:37):
story that the 2 women. That's why the story that we tell are about
2 women who were enslaved and what it was like
to be enslaved and then what happened when
at the end of slavery when you became free, how your
opportunities had grossly, you know, enlarged.
Yeah. Because and see the way that the way that Martha wrote it, the
(26:00):
2 dichotomous relationships. So the first one
is an enslaved mother talking about giving the
angst angst that she feels for her for her
11 year old daughter, 11 years old, who's been taken away from her
to another plantation. And I I I I I
feel it so so so fiercely that, very
(26:23):
often I'm brought to tears in the middle of my presentation. And I've heard
and I've I know that there are many people there there have been some people
who wiping their eyes too. Then while they go to the
second house, I change clothes of and take off the slave
outfit and put on a petticoat and get a fan and the whole
the the whole different in fact, one lady told me she said, it took me
(26:44):
she said, it took me a minute to realize you were the same person. Because
the second the second that as I play missus Jack Yates
oh, I am proud. I am so proud of I
am so proud of Freedman's Town. And this
house, as you may not know, was the very the very
first two story residential home in the city of Houston
(27:06):
was built by my Jack. You've heard of him. John Henry
Hill. He's so famous. That's great. That's great.
So when can we see you or see the reenactment
at at the Heritage? This February, there
is going to where it's the 2nd February 2nd Saturday of
the month at 10 AM from on 10 of the 10 until
(27:29):
about 12. That's when the how long the tour takes somewhat sometimes.
And it'll be February 8th and what's this what's the third of
the of the 4th Saturday? Saturday. It's the 22nd,
maybe? The 22nd. Yes. Okay. So and and they can get
their tickets, of course, at the Heritage Society because it's the
ticket sales that actually help to keep this program going. Wow. That's
(27:51):
right. Yeah. So the Heritage Society, is it are
they having special exhibits or or other
performances? Or what can we see at the
Heritage Society during this month? We have a lunch and
learn on February 20th
where doctor David McCollum
(28:13):
from Rice is coming to discuss his Pulitzer
Prize winning book about an enslaved woman
and how she gained her freedom. And so it's will be on
our our website. It's at 12 noon.
And, once a month, we have these lunch and learns, and we try to bring
in educators from outside and other
(28:35):
people to tell to discuss things
that are of importance to the community as a
whole so people can be further educated. And
that's why we have the extended tours
were supported and started by Houston First so we could
bring in more people to the Heritage Society.
(28:57):
So what was the website you mentioned? Heritage society.org.
Okay. Heritage society.org, and they need to
hit the link that goes to the elevated tours.
They're very affordable tickets, I I must say. You
know, and I am so honored to have had y'all on the show
because I have learned so much from y'all. We thank you for
(29:20):
having us today Yes. Yes. And to to to come on. To let
us let us expose you to a lot of things and Yeah. To
tell more let us share more of our histories
with Yeah. Your audience. And, of course, I would like to thank you
all for joining me and hope you learned a lot as as
or as much as I did. If you have any comments
(29:43):
or have any story ideas, please let me know.
We have a lunch and learn on February
20th where doctor David
McCollum from Rice is coming to discuss
his Pulitzer Prize winning book about an enslaved
woman and how she gained her freedom. And so it
will be on our our website. It's at 12
(00:21):
noon. And, once a month, we have these lunch and learns, and we
try to bring in educators from outside
and other people to tell to discuss
things that are of importance to the community as
a whole.
(00:44):
Thank you for joining us for another episode of spotlight Houston, where we bring you
the best people, places, and events in Greater Houston. In this episode, we're
diving into Houston's Black history with the Heritage Society. We're
joined by Martha Whiting Goddard, Kejana Wiseman, and
doctor Don Williams. Three incredible guests who are preserving and
sharing the powerful stories of Houston's African American pioneers.
(01:06):
Martha is a descendant of Reverend Jack Yates, one of the founders of Juneteenth
and has played a key role in preserving his historic home, which is now in
the UNESCO site of memory. Kejana is a teacher, performer, and
oral historian known as the griot, who brings
history to life through storytelling and reenactment at the Heritage
Society. She is also a direct descendant of general Sam Houston and
(01:29):
has worked to preserve her family's legacy, including a historic school for
black children built by her great grandfather in Walker County.
Doctor Williams, a retired US army first sergeant and Texas
historian, will take us through the history of Houston's 6 historic
wards and their impact in the black community. We'll also explore
the Heritage Society's special black history month program from plantation
(01:51):
to emancipation, which takes visitors on an emotional journey
through 3 historic homes with library enactments. This is
Spotlight Houston episode 123 with with an
original air date of Monday, February 3, 2025.
Please note that we edited this interview for time. Spotlight Houston is
brought to you by Storyzone Media. And now here's your host, Blanca
(02:13):
Quesada. Well, hi, everyone, and welcome to Spotlight
Houston. You know, for me, history is really important because
we have the opportunity to look back in time
and, you know, actually see or hear about all the
brave and creative people that shaped us
personally, our country or city, as well as our
(02:35):
communities. So February, to me, is very
interesting because it's Black History Month, and there's so
much history. This is when we need to take the time
to recognize, to remember, and honor the contributions
of this community. One of the organizations that I really, really
like has been helping Houston to conserve the
(02:57):
city's history, and that is the Heritage Society,
which is right almost at the edge of downtown.
And they have saved 10 historical homes that are
beautiful by relocating them to Sam Houston
Park. And whenever we have events out there, you can
actually see them. And they're just gorgeous.
(03:20):
So they've saved these 10 historical homes and as
well as having a museum gallery exhibits and
events that will help us understand the rich
tapestry of Houston's heritage. So I'm
honored today to introduce you to 3 incredible
people that I'm so happy that I met or that I'm meeting
(03:42):
actually, are leaving their their huge mark
in our city for future generations
and who will give us more insight into why we
celebrate Black History Month. So first of all, it is
my privilege to introduce you to Martha
Whiting Goddard, who is a descendant of one of
(04:04):
the founders of Juneteenth, Reverend Jack Yates. He
lived in this beautiful historic home that was relocated
from the 4th ward to Sam Houston Park by,
their family. She is also a consultant and programs
developer for the Heritage Society and the
June Society's Juneteenth program. Jack Yates
(04:27):
House has been preserved and managed by the Heritage Society in the city of
Houston since 1994, and it tells the history
of the years of establishment, education, and
progress following Juneteenth in Houston. It has been
noted as the most famous house in Texas by
Reader's Digest for 3 years. The Yates
(04:49):
House is one of the Heritage Society's 3 houses
that is designated by UNESCO. And if you don't know what
UNESCO means, that is the United Nations
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization as a
site of memory for the enslaved people's route
project. And that I I can't wait to hear more about it from
(05:12):
Martha. But, then we also have here
a retired, incredible man as well.
He is a US Army First Sergeant and he has
done so much and he is a lifetime member
of the Heritage Society and and and also an
amazing, Texas historian. He travels throughout
(05:34):
Texas, studying and photographing historical
sites, including homes, historical markers, and
cemeteries of Texas families. He also
is connected to other historical organizations such
as Sam Houston Memorial Museum.
And he stays pretty busy. And he is getting to write a book
(05:56):
pretty soon, and I think it's going to be great. I can't
wait to see it. And last but not least is
Kajana Wiseman. She's a teacher, an entertainer,
a very charismatic person. She is known as
the I hope I'm gonna pronounce this right, the griot?
Griot. Griot. The griot. What does that mean?
(06:19):
Singing storyteller. Griots were the world's first historians, the
first educators, and the first entertainment. And they
usually worked a 25 mile circuit in Africa going from
village to village, and they kept the lineage of the people.
And if you go to Exodus, you can see a a a a song
of a griot with this man beget this man beget this
(06:40):
man. Well, that was the that was a tradition because they didn't have
books, and so the griot was your walking book. Yeah.
Yeah. That makes sense. It makes sense. And you're
also an incredible singer. Just
incredible. You have an amazing voice. And you're recognized
for your performances. And she also
(07:03):
helps the Heritage Society by performing as an
actor during their tours. Yes. The elevated
tours. Yeah. Yeah. So welcome to the show. It's
great to have you all here to help us understand a little
bit more about what Black History Month means to you and
the black community. So Martha, how about we start with
(07:25):
you? How does it feel to be to
being a Jack Yates descendant? Do you feel a certain responsibility
to try to walk in his steps? And and what what
is it about him that inspires you? Well, yes.
I I feel a responsibility because that's
why my mother and her 5 daughters, of which I am
(07:47):
1, we donated the house to the
Heritage Society to make sure that
the stories from this family would be retold
to expand people's knowledge of history, especially
among both the both well,
the diverse population of Houston and all the people who come
(08:10):
here to visit so they could see what formerly
enslaved people were able to do here shortly
after the the end of the civil war. And
because Jack had 11 children,
they had a lot of different things going on.
In other words, he has most of his children were teachers,
(08:32):
but he also had, entrepreneur
and entrepreneurs and printers
and people who were very industrious. And
so even though his family came here from Virginia,
they always still kept in touch with each other. And so
it's kind of like his his family and
(08:55):
his story has been going on a long time. And
so that house is like the embodiment of
what he and his relatives who
came with the Civil War army. The
Union Army came here, and they were able to build for he and his
family to live in. So so he actually a continuing
(09:16):
story. Yeah. So, actually, he was the one
that kind of created Freakman's Town. Well, he
was he was instrumental in it. Yes. Because he,
he purchased property there in 18/69
that is still there. He was able to work with
because of his ability to
(09:39):
to get along with people and how he
knew how to work with other people. Because from the
time he was a child, his his best friend was
was someone who was who was white, who was really his
enslaver son because the mother took care of both of
them. And so both Jack and he. And so
(10:02):
one taught the other to read, and they just, you know,
continued along with each other. And so when people were
being free, his his enslaver
freed all of the slaves that were on his
plantation. Jack came here because his wife was
still enslaved, and that's how he ended up coming to Texas.
(10:25):
Otherwise, they would probably still be in Virginia because his
his brother and his brother-in-law who came here and
helped him build the house as union soldiers, they went back
after so long to Virginia, and they didn't stay here.
But some of one of their descendants and some of
their descendants live here now. So, Martha, what does
(10:47):
Black History Month mean to you? Well, it
means that the history of of our
people is being remembered and celebrated
and and discussed and shared with the entire
country because there is so much that we have
given to building and continuing to contribute to the
(11:11):
country. It was the day when I was a child. It was Black History
Day. Well, but that was in school. But I was
saying, Kelly, I remember that. It was a day, not a not a week
or a whole month. That that may have been here in Texas. It was really
supposed to be a week. Week. It was really a week. It is Texas.
Yeah. Yeah. But but that's what I'm saying. It was a week because you would
(11:32):
have celebrated church, and then there was one day at
school that you might have a celebration. But it
it it went from there until they, sort of
in the seventies, people started adding on more time
to make it a month. And then in 1986,
president Reagan made it officially into a
(11:54):
month celebration. And so it's at the point now that there
is through the association.
OSLA really kinda started this when it had a different
name. But they have a topic that they
celebrate each year so that so it's not the same
thing all the time. It's something different. So you
(12:16):
learn something new or something more every year. And that's
what it's supposed to do, educate everybody about the
contributions of African Americans to
America. Yeah. For example, this year's theme is on is concentrating
on labor. The unions this year, they're telling
people the story of labor unions in this
(12:38):
country that black people have started and
contributed to because we've had unions
since the 19 thirties. My father joined the union.
And so it's like because he joined the union,
he has daughters who joined. It's kind of like, if you saw
somebody do it, you just continue to do it because
(13:02):
you knew it contributed to your to your life here. Right.
So that's what that that's what this year is about. It remembers
we sing songs and have, you know, programs
and things that that tell you about our, you know,
our history in other ways. But when they have different
topics, it tell it educates everybody, which is what's
(13:24):
important. And since you have an educator here, doctor
Don, he can tell you what they do in the schools
now. Because when we went to school, as Kejana
said, we had maybe one day at school that they
reminded you of. But since it's a full month, there
are activities all over the city and Yeah. You know, all over the
(13:46):
country. Most and in 27 other countries. Yeah.
Well, since you since you work or or
volunteer at the Heritage Society, what is the
Heritage Society doing to to make sure
that they can recognize this month
and and tell those stories? Well, we have our
(14:09):
extended tour, which Kejana is our
chief reenactor from the plantation to emancipation.
And we we highlight the
the 3 homes that were recognized
as sites of memory of the slave trade, which are
(14:29):
the Kellogg Noble House built in 1847, the
4th Ward Cottage from 18/18/66,
I think, and the Yates House from 18 70.
And so she's telling a story of
someone who would have been in those homes
(14:50):
during that period. Yeah. I'm I'm I'm always
amazed at how these homes still exist. You
know? Well, the city owns them, and the Heritage
Society owns what's in them. And because the
houses have been moved there from other places, doctor Dawn needs
to tell us about the wards that were, like,
(15:13):
the houses came from where black people lived, 3rd ward
and 4th ward. Doctor Dawn? Yes. Yeah. Well
Good. You're wonderful. In in in that part that she had mentioned, I'm
an educator and my the the class I teach now is
African American studies. Here in the United States, we we piloted it at
first and now it's a it's officially a class that we teach at high school
(15:35):
level, and so I'm glad to have that. We're talking about the wards, you know,
I'm I'm I'm actually pretty passionate about the wards because
of the 6 wards that we have, I've actually lived in 3 of them. That
is the 2nd ward, the the 3rd ward, and part of the 4th
ward. See that and Houston was was, actually founded in in 18
36, and somewhere around about 18 37, then the
(15:56):
founders actually wanted to divide the political, you know, to
to to do a political divide. And it it was pretty
small, you know, it was Houston was only about 9 9 or 10, you
know, square miles in length and everything else. So they actually divided
it. If you go downtown, you can see where it's divided at, and this
was in 19 correction, 18/40. If you go on Main
(16:18):
Street in Congress, right there in the middle of that, that divides the
first four wards. The first ward being up where UHV
is at. The second ward being down down south more more
likely where the navigation goes to where the the
original NIFA's and the Esplanade. Then you have the third
ward, which is where which is where the u of h and the TSU
(16:40):
is is is at. And then you have, of course, the 4th ward. The 4th
ward is is actually where the Heritage Society is at, the
Freedman's Town, and also the Antioch Church. The Freedman Town
obviously was one that most of the blacks had the opportunity
to, buy property and then those kinds of things. But
obviously the second ward was probably, it was more of a
(17:02):
Hispanic town, but much later, but they they started moving into
those particular areas. Then you had the the the 5th war. The 5th
war was created after Houston had expanded a little bit. And 5th war
definitely started off as white. It was mostly Irish and it had a lot of
cattle, also had had the continent. And we made the 6th
ward. The 6th ward has it they they may have some blacks
(17:25):
in it, but not not a lot of them. As a matter of fact, one
of the most famous people from there is Mary Kay. Mary Kay actually
lived there. Wow. And so what does
Black History or Heritage Month mean to you? Well, Black
History Month is is it actually means a whole lot to me. It is the
1 month and, you know, people talking about how it's the shortest month of
(17:46):
the year. No. It was made to coincide with Abraham Lincoln and and
Frederick Douglass' birthday. And so it just happened to be a short month.
But to me, it's a time, you know, it's a bleed off for me because
I do celebrate doctor King, but then we go into the Black History
Month. It's a time that we concentrate on something new every every year. Okay?
Yeah. Came on with the lesson that we learned before, but we also talk
(18:07):
about that. And I would say it's a time for me to dig up
as much history as I can locally, obviously, but all around and
I try to, you know, again, get at least 5 or 6 different lessons
every single year that I studied black history. Yeah. And
reflect on the lives that came before us. Yeah. Yes.
Most definitely. The difference they made for us.
(18:29):
So Alright. Miss Jana. Yes,
ma'am. For you, what does African or or Black
History Month mean to you? It's a time to return to our roots.
You know. I I I I I'm the great great
great granddaughter of General Sam Houston. And Oh,
wow. So I have I have the property in
(18:51):
Huntsville where his grandson built the first school
for African Americans because my grandfather married a woman
who looked like she came from Nigeria. And my grand my great
grandfather knew that his his little chocolate grandchildren would not be allowed to get
an education because Right. They weren't educated. They weren't building schools for
black people in Texas back in 1921. We're
(19:13):
talking 19 twenties. Mhmm. Okay? Yeah.
So and so the the and you've heard of the Rosenwald Schools?
Yes. Okay. Well, that's the property that I have. It was the
first it was the first, public school for black children in
Walker County. And so I do an Earth Day Festival there every
year, in April, of course. But and it's called
(19:35):
Return to Our Roots because I I really had I
my journey really began during COVID because, you know, I performed in
a bunch of I've performed in 23 countries, and I and
and and I usually, you know, I'm gone. But COVID wouldn't
would let me go anywhere. Yeah. So I went to
Huntsville, and I said, you know, I've been paying on this land that my mother
(19:58):
that my mother's school land. I don't even know where it is. And I went
and I found it, and we found the well, and we found the the footprints
of the school. And and and and and there were still a
lot of people who were alive that and who went to that
school. They're mostly in their nineties now and, they come they
come out every year and their children come out because the thing is
(20:19):
that if we don't share if we don't if we don't
unearth our own heritage, nobody's gonna do it for us. Nah. You
know? So And and and so it's it's vital that we
continue to remind people and to learn because the this
past I think about 2 days ago, I saw a TikTok on
well, maybe it was Facebook. I don't know. Anyway, it was on the
(20:41):
wife of Frederick Douglass and and how much she
contributed to his success. And, you know, behind every great man, there's a
greater woman. Sorry. That's not Yeah. Yeah. The
truth of the matter is that if that that there's there's so many
stories that that are lost and buried, and it
gives us an opportunity to really reenact and and
(21:03):
remind people and and for some people, inform them
of their heritage. Yeah. So Congratulations for
for having and and preserving that land. Oh, yeah.
I was I I was I was bored, and I needed to
go someplace. And and so my husband bought me a a
little RV, and I've I've I've put it on the land. And
(21:26):
since I don't have a well, I use air water from a from a
a dehumidifier, but it's there and it's it's and
people know about it now, and they're remembering Rosenwald.
And I hope you because mister Rosenwald contributed $63,000,000
of his money to build 5,537
schools in 15 Jim Crow states for black people. And
(21:48):
they and he's just beginning to be recognized for it. And so my
my property is on the national register as a Rosenwald property.
But that that has but and so the by being asked
by by Martha and Anna and and and
Allison to come down and portray, which is my
profession. I am a griot. I'm that's what I do when I perform in
(22:12):
other countries. But to to be able to do that in Houston on a
regular basis is is phenomenal. It's it's wonderful. It's
invigorating, and and people are beginning to find out about it. Yeah. So
You've been recording the stories of the students that used to go there?
Oh, at oh, yes. Yes. In fact, my mom was
1. You see, she she went there. She was They told me that she used
(22:34):
to sneak into the schoolhouse when she was, like, 4
years old. They couldn't find her. They would always find her under somebody's
desk at that school. And then when she was finally able to go there,
she loved it. Then she her her grandfather, John Wesley
Wilson, was a professor at Sam Houston State Teachers College, his
his grandfather's college. But Sam's Sam's daughter
(22:57):
no. Sam's Sam's doctor's granddaughter
married Sam's grandson, and that created the
Kittrell Wilson dynasty as you were as it were in
Huntsville. And so Yeah. It it I've unearthed so many
stories. And if you people can go to rosenwaldacres.com
and and read them. But, you know, the the the the beautiful thing about
(23:20):
the Heritage Society is that this is this is not way up in the woods.
It's downtown in Houston, and it's talking about the
history of Houston. Right. And that's what's most important.
When when people are walking up, whether they're from Pawhuska, Oklahoma
or Louisiana or Paris, the tourists who come in to see the
program, I usually welcome them first with
(23:45):
freedom.
(24:10):
Such a long
ways from home.
That was fantastic. My husband did a little video of it with me on
the porch, and I didn't know he was doing it at the time. I was
just warming up my voice. But he went from that cottage, and he
(24:30):
he he panned up past the trees in the heritage
to the building that is behind. I think that's the heritage building, isn't it,
or something like that? Yeah. The Yeah. Text the That that that
tall tall building, and then he comes back down, and it's a
long way from home. It really is. And and so,
you know, the the the the thing is that my talents are
(24:53):
are uniquely suited for this kind of of of
of interaction, and I'm an edutainer more than an
entertainer. We have to continue to tell our stories,
and that's what this is all about. All of this comes together as
one one one lesson of of
of of sacrifice and and sanctuary.
(25:15):
What I also find interesting is that when we are talking
about Black History Month or any other
culturally diverse groups that have their their
months being recognized, we usually hear about the men and
their contribution, but women also
made great contributions. And then Well, that's why the
(25:37):
story that the 2 women. That's why the story that we tell are about
2 women who were enslaved and what it was like
to be enslaved and then what happened when
at the end of slavery when you became free, how your
opportunities had grossly, you know, enlarged.
Yeah. Because and see the way that the way that Martha wrote it, the
(26:00):
2 dichotomous relationships. So the first one
is an enslaved mother talking about giving the
angst angst that she feels for her for her
11 year old daughter, 11 years old, who's been taken away from her
to another plantation. And I I I I I
feel it so so so fiercely that, very
(26:23):
often I'm brought to tears in the middle of my presentation. And I've heard
and I've I know that there are many people there there have been some people
who wiping their eyes too. Then while they go to the
second house, I change clothes of and take off the slave
outfit and put on a petticoat and get a fan and the whole
the the whole different in fact, one lady told me she said, it took me
(26:44):
she said, it took me a minute to realize you were the same person. Because
the second the second that as I play missus Jack Yates
oh, I am proud. I am so proud of I
am so proud of Freedman's Town. And this
house, as you may not know, was the very the very
first two story residential home in the city of Houston
(27:06):
was built by my Jack. You've heard of him. John Henry
Hill. He's so famous. That's great. That's great.
So when can we see you or see the reenactment
at at the Heritage? This February, there
is going to where it's the 2nd February 2nd Saturday of
the month at 10 AM from on 10 of the 10 until
(27:29):
about 12. That's when the how long the tour takes somewhat sometimes.
And it'll be February 8th and what's this what's the third of
the of the 4th Saturday? Saturday. It's the 22nd,
maybe? The 22nd. Yes. Okay. So and and they can get
their tickets, of course, at the Heritage Society because it's the
ticket sales that actually help to keep this program going. Wow. That's
(27:51):
right. Yeah. So the Heritage Society, is it are
they having special exhibits or or other
performances? Or what can we see at the
Heritage Society during this month? We have a lunch and
learn on February 20th
where doctor David McCollum
(28:13):
from Rice is coming to discuss his Pulitzer
Prize winning book about an enslaved woman
and how she gained her freedom. And so it's will be on
our our website. It's at 12 noon.
And, once a month, we have these lunch and learns, and we try to bring
in educators from outside and other
(28:35):
people to tell to discuss things
that are of importance to the community as a
whole so people can be further educated. And
that's why we have the extended tours
were supported and started by Houston First so we could
bring in more people to the Heritage Society.
(28:57):
So what was the website you mentioned? Heritage society.org.
Okay. Heritage society.org, and they need to
hit the link that goes to the elevated tours.
They're very affordable tickets, I I must say. You
know, and I am so honored to have had y'all on the show
because I have learned so much from y'all. We thank you for
(29:20):
having us today Yes. Yes. And to to to come on. To let
us let us expose you to a lot of things and Yeah. To
tell more let us share more of our histories
with Yeah. Your audience. And, of course, I would like to thank you
all for joining me and hope you learned a lot as as
or as much as I did. If you have any comments
(29:43):
or have any story ideas, please let me know.
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