Galveston's African American Lifeguards

Galveston's African American Lifeguards. . After the Great Storm of 1900, African American men across the south moved to Galveston in search of work. However, the 1896 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Plessy v. Ferguson limited economic opportunities for African Americans by legalizing racial segregation. As a result, Jim Crow practices segregated African Americans from their White counterparts. Despite these social and cultural challenges, African Americans created vibrant Black communities on the island., The beaches along the Galveston Seawall were already segregated by social practice. Although less than half a mile long, African Americans created their own areas, sometimes called "Brown Beach," at 28th Street and at West Beach, sometimes called "Sunset Camps." These public spaces provided Black swimmers with their own beaches to relax and bathe. In 1921, African American Galvestonians petitioned the city for a lifeguard to oversee the beaches. James Helton (1914-1965) became the first Black lifeguard in 1935, later followed by Wavery Guidry (1912-1986) in 1943. Each watched over the beaches, rescued swimmers and, at times, recovered the drowned. In total, the two made over thirty rescues., Helton served from 1935 to 1943 and Guidry from 1942 to 1957 and were not alone in their efforts. More African American lifeguards followed in their footsteps to watch over Black swimmers. They faced physical and cultural dangers on the beach to protect African Americans. Their stories represent the physical and social challenges African Americans overcame during segregation.