African American Experiences in the Historic Dunbar Neighborhood in San Marcos, Texas: A Case Study of Counter-Life Stories

Shetay Ashford-Hanserd,Sarai Benitez,Chad D Williams,Edward Ybarra,Theresa M Clifford,Eric Sarmiento,Colleen C Myles,Aimee Kendall Roundtree,Mary-Patricia Hayton,Christopher Pierce,Steven W Rayburn,Shadi Maleki

doi:10.3390/socsci9100177

Abstract

The purpose of this participatory research project is to examine the lived experiences (counter-life stories) of current and former Dunbar residents and congregants of Dunbar churches to demonstrate how local stories counter the dominant perspective about the experiences of American Americans in the Dunbar community. Once a thriving community at the center of civil rights activities in Hays County, Texas, the neighborhood has evolved in many ways in the past several decades, contrary to popular belief. This case study employs counter-life story methodology to uncover the hidden truths about Dunbar residents and congregants’ experiences to generate new knowledge about the experiences of African Americans in San Marcos, Texas, and Hays County. Thematic analysis of unfiltered commentary from Dunbar community members revealed three emergent themes: history of racism and slavery, impact of environmental and social racism, and rebuilding and restoring the community. Individual and shared strengths make the community unique and resilient. In-migration of new community members has been outpaced by outmigration. Finally, issues of taxation, representation, and the ongoing deterioration of neighborhood infrastructure are forefront in community members’ minds. In sum, the bedrock of personal and community values and hard work has not changed, but external forces continue to affect the community and compel it to pivot and make plans for change. Personal and communal strengths make the community unique and resilient. Future work will enlist geographic data and methods to help further investigate changes over time.

Highlights

Counter-life stories are narratives about peoples’ lives that run contrary to widespread knowledge or general understanding of events
Since there is a deficit of empirical studies that examine lived experiences in San Marcos, Texas, from the African Americans’ perspective, the counter-life story method is warranted for this study
We provide a timeline of Dunbar events in Appendix A and maps of the historic Dunbar neighborhood in Appendix B to accompany these counter-life stories

Summary

Introduction

Counter-life stories are narratives about peoples’ lives that run contrary to widespread knowledge or general understanding of events. Counter-life storytelling can serve as a form of resistance to standard or majority stories and understanding (Hubain et al 2016). 2020, 9, 177 been useful in creating theories, using methods, and implementing pedagogies that challenge racism, sexism, and classism and work toward social justice (Solórzano and Yosso 2002). A team of interdisciplinary researchers at Texas State University conducted a life history study in the historic

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Conclusion