Travis County Commssioners Court
June 22, 2004
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Item 36
36 is as follows: 36. Consider and take appropriate action on request to place a public recognition plaque in honor of heman sweatt vs. Painter lawsuit in the 126th judicial district court in the old historic courthouse.
>> this morning we have requested and are asking you to bless a project that arose from a conversation that took place on may 17th between malcolm and i, when we were down at town lake doing what you could chairtably describe as running. We commented about the article in the newspaper of the editorial that was in there by arnold garcia, talking about the lack of public recognition for the heman sweatt case, since it was the anniversary of the board of education -- brown versus board, malcolm has a short presentation that he would like to give you on the topic of heman sweat and tell of you its importance and why we are making this request to you.
>> Commissioners, I have a very brief history of why we are here today.
>> malcolm, we know you, but could you --
>> my name is malcolm green greenstein. On June 17th, 1946, heman sweatt walked into the 126th district court in Travis County. Mr. Sweatt was a 33-year-old mail carrier who wanted to attend the university of Texas law school. He was otherwise qualified to attend his ethics and his grades and his education were sufficient, but he had one disqualification. He was black. The university of Texas law school was a segregated law school. Mr. Sweatt brought a lawsuit so that he could attend the university of Texas law school. On June 17th, 1946, judge roy archer who provided in the 126th district court ordered the state of Texas to provide within six months a course of legal instruction that was substantially equal to that that was offered at university of Texas law school. If the state did not, he promised that mr. Sweatt would be able to attend the university of Texas law school. Six months later, on December 16th, mr. Sweat reappeared in -- in the 126th district court. His lawyers at that time were mr. Doneham from houston and a man named thurgood marshall, from d.c. Judge archer ruled that a resolution that Texas a&m had passed on November 27th, wherein the university had promised to create a substantially equal course of law at the recently renamed prairie view university, prairie view college, now since it was going to be a law school it was prairie view university satisfied the court's mandate. One interesting note about that hearing, on December 16th, all of the seats in the council table were taken. So mr. Sweatt, during his hearing, had to sit on the floor. The case -- the case wound its way to the supreme court, the appeal was taken and on June 15th, 1950, the supreme court ruled that the law school which the state has subsequently established on a building, on east 13th street was not substantially equal in prestige, nor did possess the books and faculty equal to the university of Texas. The supreme court ordered Texas to admit mr. Sweatt to the law school. On September 19th, 1950, mr. Sweatt enrolled in the law school. Unfortunately the stress of the lawsuit, he had received numerous death threats and other harassing communications during that time, had taken their toll. Mr. Sweatt failed his classes and he eventually dropped out of the law school. As he explained, I don't think anyone can possibly realize the wear and tear on personal emotion one suffers in going through six years of this kind of struggle. But his struggle opened the doors for hundreds of minority students to enroll, pass through the university of Texas law school and become outstanding lawyers and judges. A few of note are judge Biscoe, my friend mr. Shepherd and county attorney mr. Escomilla, we are asking that the commission authorize the creation and placement of an appropriate testament to mr. Sweat's courage, dedication and per perserverance, judge burns has agreed, she has written a letter in support, I have been in contact with judges livingston, kennedy, flowers, they are all in agreement and I can state with certainty that any other judge in Travis County who you would contact would also be in strong agreement. Thank you.
>> thank you very much. And -- and that -- those were very -- fine testimony that you have given. It has been a struggle for african-americans here in Austin Travis County, in the country, to recognize the person such as mr. Sweatt and I -- I was born here in Austin, so I can remember folks talking about mr. Sweatt, the courage that he had and still talked about in this community. I just think that it's really a great honor to recognize him for the struggles that he endured and the struggles that -- that continue today. As we try to overcome racial injustice, not only in Travis County, but in this nation, it is a continued struggle, of course this is one way, I think, we can recognize this person for his contribution, in overcoming these struggles. I would like to thank mr. Shepperd and anyone else who was involved in this process to show just recognition for mr. Heman sweatt who did, I think, make a major contribution to the struggles of the african american community in Travis County. So again I would like to move approval of this and I would like to also, if it's possible, when we have the plaque ready and stuff like that, when is it?
>> it's anticipated that we are trying to get the money raised and get the plaque formulated and the wording on the plaque in the next 60 to 90 days. We would want to come before you today to bless this project, so when we got started we know the result would be one that you all approved of.
>> I think there's no question but that -- but that it's important to remember these -- these trail blazers who -- who show a lot of courage and also because I think that -- that this kind of responsibility belongs to each and every individual and not just to -- to you know mr. Sweat. I think that every person needs to -- to have that kind of courage and make sure that -- that those acts are not forgotten. And no matter how many -- how much time goes by, I think we need to be reminded of these events because they continue to happen. People forget them.
>> yeah.
>> and so people -- people of all -- of all colors, of all background need to take on the responsibility of making sure that people are not mistreated not matter what they look look. Especially if they look different from us.
>> I second the motion.
>> okay. I will be happy to second that. A question for you. There are some amazing photographs from that whole time period that I think are over at the parker history center. I have pulled that picture many a time in former days as a television news reporter. It's an amazing photo, I don't know if that's even possible to incorporated within the plaque itself, sometimes they can do that in terms of how it's done. But it's a -- it's just one of those photos that just sticks out in your mind because it is a such a defining moment in terms of not only the university of Texas, but the entire state of Texas.
>> right.
>> it happened in our back yard.
>> I think eric mentioned to me that he has a friend who was the first african-american graduate of the school of architecture and -- he was --
>> he was living in houston, he's also very interested, john s. Chase, not only the first african-american from the school of architecture, but the first african-american to graduate from u.t. Austin. We are hope that he will be able to be at the ceremony as well. And -- and we are hopeful to get like we said get the money raised, get it timely done. We will take a look at that Commissioners, trying to get that incorporated into the plaque. One of our local judges, phillips, has a lot of knowledge about this, some other people that we need to get in contact with. And we want to thank particularly arnold garcia for writing such a wonderful thing that spurred us to action. Thank you for your time here today.
>> thank you.
>> is it the desire of the court that it's the actual language of the plaque be brought back to the Commissioners court for final signoff I think. That's pretty much when we did on mr. Grangers plaque outside is bless the project, but please bring us back the final copy so we can --
>> thank you.
>> moved and seconded. Any further discussion of the motion to bless the project? All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote.
>> thank you all.
>> thank you very much.
Last Modified: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 8:44 AM