Post Reconstruction Challenges and Achievements

Post Reconstruction Challenges and Achievements. , The end of Reconstruction proved an uncertain and violent time for African-Americans living in Texas. Riots and lynchings were common occurrences. By the early 20th century, Texas ranked third in the nation for lynching. Violence, however, did not deter Texans of African descent from seeking to improve their economic, political and social status. This period saw major African-American contributions to aviation, sports and the arts--particularly in music. Folk music from the African-Americans in Texas made an important contribution to the development of blues, folk and country music in America. , Blacks were barred from attending public schools with Whites in Texas until 1954, when the United States Supreme Court ended public school segregation in the United States. Despite being forced to attend inferior public schools, Africans-Americans were able to attain higher education at traditionally black colleges including Huston-Tillotson University, Prairie View A&M University, Texas Southern University and Wiley College. , During and after World War I, Black Texans played a significant role in advancing Civil Rights. The landmark case Smith v. Allwright (1944) improved the voting rights for African-Americans in the South and Sweatt v. Painter (1950) paved the way for equal access to education by opening the doors of The University of Texas law school to African-American students. More groundbreaking changes followed. African-American voter registration peaked in the 1960s. Activists organized peaceful protests including lunch counter sit-ins, marches and business boycotts.