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Come disrupt public space and engage with the histories, experiences and contributions of Black people in Austin and beyond.

26/01/2025

We love hosting group tours! It’s always an awesome opportunity sharing the histories, experiences and contributions of Austin’s Black population with different groups.

We always have a chance to tailor some of the tour’s content to align with your company, organization or group. Whether your organization is comprised of longtime Austin residents or more recent residents, there’s always something these riches histories can teach you about our city and your presence.

Taking a group tour is great team building opportunity that foster discussions and cohesion in a non-traditional setting.

We look forward to hosting y’all! Check out our website to fill out a private group tour interest form

25/01/2025

History Spotlight: Southern Dinette

Jimmie and Georgia Owens’ Southern Dinette was more than just a restaurant—it was a beacon of Black entrepreneurship and community on East 11th Street. Opened in 1947, the Dinette quickly gained a reputation for serving the best soul food in Austin, with recipes perfected through labor, love, and dedication. From Jimmie’s perfectly seasoned dishes to Georgia’s warm hospitality, their family-style soul food welcomed everyone with hearty portions and affordable prices, embodying the resilience and creativity of African Americans in the face of systemic barriers.

The restaurant stood across from Shorty’s Bar & Grill, a key venue on the Chitlin’ Circuit, and served as a cultural hub where good food and the stories of the neighborhood intertwined. Jimmie and Georgia’s work represents how African Americans, through their labor and foodways, created spaces that celebrated heritage, fostered community, and upheld Black excellence.

📸: Huston-Tillotson University Yearbook - Ad from Southern Dinette - 1959

Sources: Jimmie and Georgia
At their Southern Dinette, family-style soul food took on a whole new meaning
BY MICK VANN, FRI., JULY 4, 2003

24/01/2025

Donovan just did a great interview with KXAN’s Studio 51.

24/01/2025

🚨 Tours Are Happening TODAY! 🚨
It’s not too late to join Black Austin Tours and experience the rich history, culture, and stories of Austin.

📅 When: TODAY! January 24th
🌟 Whether you’re flying solo, bringing friends, or making it a family outing, there’s still time to secure your spot.

🎟️ Book your tour now: BlackAustinTours.com

Don’t miss out on this unforgettable journey – we can’t wait to see you there!

21/01/2025

This is what we LOVE to see! Our tour guides, Mason and Donovan, took the initiative to visit the , conducting primary research on Austin’s Black history.

We’ve implemented a paid research component into our hiring process, ensuring that each month, they are compensated to conduct research and produce outputs for public engagement. They have the freedom to choose any topic, as long as it connects to Austin’s Black history.

This is vital to what we do. We don’t just want them to repeat what they’ve been told—we want them to develop rigorous research methods, engage with the community, and find ways to make their research accessible. This process makes them better tour guides and equips them to lead thoughtful conversations about our history.

Mason, a student at , and Donovan, a student at , both bring unique perspectives to their work. They’re also proud members of .

Come learn with them! They’re ready to host you during the week. Check the bio for dates and book your tour today!

19/01/2025

✨ Tickets Are Still Available! ✨ Need more convincing? Check out our last post! Community testimonials are our favorite.

Don’t miss your chance to join Black Austin Tours this weekend! We’ve got spots open for tours on:

📅 January 19th & 20th

Can’t make it this weekend? No worries – you can also register for upcoming dates:

📅 January 24th-26th

🎟️ Secure your tickets now: BlackAustinTours.com

Let’s make history, one tour at a time. See you there! 💛

18/01/2025

The Historic Victory Grill—one of the last remaining original Chitlin’ Circuit venues—stands as a testament to African American labor, entrepreneurship, and cultural innovation. Opened by Johnny Holmes in 1945 on Victory Over Japan Day, the Victory Grill provided a space where Black soldiers, returning from World War II, could enjoy food, drink, and community in a segregated South. Holmes’ labor as a booking agent and band manager helped transform the venue into a cornerstone of the Chitlin’ Circuit, where legends like Billie Holiday, James Brown, and Etta James brought their talent to stages that celebrated and sustained Black artistry.

We will visit the historic site on the Tastes & Sounds of the Chiltlin Circuit: Food & Music Tour - Brunch Edition on Sat Feb 1. 11am! Book now in bio

The Victory Grill’s history embodies the upcoming 2025 Black History Month theme, “African Americans & Labor,” showcasing how Black entrepreneurs used their labor and creativity to build spaces that uplifted their communities, even in the face of systemic barriers.

📸 Photo Credit: Texas Historical Comisson

17/01/2025

✨ Missed the last tour? We’ve got you covered! ✨

Start your year off right with Black Austin Tours! Here’s our January Schedule – plenty of opportunities to embrace the rich history and vibrant culture of Austin.

📅 Tour Dates:
January 13th
January 17th- TODAY!
January 18th
January 19th
January 20th
January 24th
January 25th
January 26th
🍽️February 1: Taste and Sounds Brunch Tour
🌟 Don’t wait – book your spot now before they fill up! Let’s walk, talk, and celebrate Black history together.

🎟️ Reserve your tour today: BlackAustinTours.com (Link in bio!)
📲 Tag your crew and spread the word!

15/01/2025

🎉 January is JAM-PACKED with Exciting Weekend Tours! 🎉
Black Austin Tours is bringing the energy this month with a lineup you don’t want to miss! Here’s what’s coming up:

📅 January 17th - 20th
✨ Uncover the rich stories of Austin’s Black history.
✨ Experience culture, community, and connection.

This weekend is STACKED with opportunities to learn, and celebrate together! 🎊

🚨 Don’t wait – spots are filling fast!
📲 Book your tour NOW by visiting BlackAustinTours.com (Link in bio)

Tag your weekend crew!

13/01/2025

It was great seeing y’all this weekend! Shoutout the folks that came out on a tour as part of their service projects! Yes, learning about the histories, experiences and contributions of Black people in Austin is important. We are fundamental to the development of this city for the last two centuries.

We have two centuries worth of learning and experiencing to do! Thanks to for leading this tour.

Come on a tour with us! See dates in the bio!

13/01/2025

🎉 We’re Back and Thrilled to Roll Out the Taste and Sounds of the Chitlin’ Circuit Tour Again on FEBRUARY 1! And boy did we have a time last go round!🎶🍽️

We can’t wait to share this soulful experience with you, blending history, music, and incredible Southern flavors. This is more than just a tour – it’s a celebration of culture, resilience, and community.

Be sure to check out all the event details and important info – we’ve made it easy for you to plan and enjoy a seamless experience.

🚨 Spots are limited, so don’t wait!
📲 Sign up today to secure your place at this unforgettable event: Head to BlackAustinTours.com

11/01/2025

Don’t miss out!

Black Austin Tours is happening today and Sunday (1/11 & 1/12). Dive into Austin’s rich history and walk away inspired and informed. 🌟 Book now to join the journey!

05/01/2025

Happy George Washington Carver Day. January 5th we celebrate the life and accomplishments of George Washington Carver.

Our favorite connection to George Washington Carver is history of the naming of George Washington Carver Library in Austin. Initially, the small segregated library for Blacks in was named the “Colored Branch.” It was located downtown near what is now .

Following the creation of the Negro District, the building was moved to East Austin where the community requested the name changed. They decided to name their community institution after George Washington Carver. We have understand the importance of going from the “Colored Branch” to The George Washington Carver Library.

They gave their children and community a person who looked like them. A person who someone their children could emulate and look up too.

We are grateful to those community members that gave us such an important institution. We are fortunate in Austin that our principal and publicly funded Museum & Library Complex is named for this great individual.

Take an East Austin Tour with us to learn more about this important institution in Austin!

05/01/2025

✨ Get ready, Austin! 2025 is shaping up to be an unforgettable year with Black Austin Tours! 🎉 We’re bringing you even more immersive experiences, untold stories, and vibrant celebrations of Black history and culture. From exciting new tours to community events, food, music, and special surprises, we can’t wait to share it all with you. Together, let’s honor the past, celebrate the present, and build a future full of pride and connection. 🖤✨

04/01/2025

Disrupt Public Space is a movement! We look forward to hosting y’all this year! Tours are now available to book!

Book now in bio!

01/01/2025

✨ Welcome to 2025 Black Austin Tours! ✨

This year, we’re bringing you MORE of everything you love: more tours of Austin’s rich Black history, more Austin pride, more delicious eats, more fun and unforgettable moments, more truth-telling, and more engaging IG Lives! Let’s make 2025 a year to celebrate, connect, and learn together. 🎉🖤

26/12/2024

Happy Kwanzaa! Today is the first day of and for Day One: Umoja which unity we lift up Akwasi Evans (Ibae).

Evans perfectly embodies Umoja as his community activism and newspaper, NOKOA Observer, united our community. He used the printed word to communicate our stories.

He is also noted as one of the founders of Austin Kwanzaa celebrations on a community level. He is quoted in a article from the 1980s, that in 1978 he and Veon McIeynolds, helped promote the African American celebration on a community level.

Happy Kwanzaa!

25/12/2024

🔔This holiday season, we reflect on the untold stories of the enslaved at Pease Park. While the season brought moments of connection, it was also a time marked by profound pain, separation, and survival. Beneath the surface of festivity lay systems of control, but also resilience, defiance, and hope.

Let these images remind us of the complexities of history and the courage of those whose voices remain unheard. May we hold their stories with care and honor their legacy this Christmas season. ✨

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Donovan just did a great interview with KXAN’s Studio 51.

Juneteenth T-Shirts for Sale! This t-shirt pays homage to the different Freedom Colonies that emerged in the Austin area following the U.S. Civil War. Freedom Colonies are settlements that were founded by these newly emancipated Africans and their descendants. Forever Free strives to invoke the will and determination of the newly emerging African-Americans to fully participate in the U.S. on their own terms. Chika Otuata is the graphic designer who worked with us on this design. Her research interests include black women, self-care, joy, and happiness. Chika has been instrumental in designing not only our Juneteenth T-shirts but also our logo. Order here: https://black-austin-tours.creator-spring.com

Juneteenth T-Shirts for Sale! This t-shirt pays homage to the different Freedom Colonies that emerged in the Austin area following the U.S. Civil War. Freedom Colonies are settlements that were founded by these newly emancipated Africans and their descendants. Forever Free strives to invoke the will and determination of the newly emerging African-Americans to fully participate in the U.S. on their own terms. Chika Otuata is the graphic designer who worked with us on this design. Her research interests include black women, self-care, joy, and happiness. Chika has been instrumental in designing not only our Juneteenth T-shirts but also our logo. Order your's today: https://black-austin-tours.creator-spring.com

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