PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (April 10, 2020) – Tracey L. Moore, Digital Media Arts Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor in the School of Architecture (SOA) at Prairie View A&M University, was recently nominated to serve as an inaugural Harris County African-American History and Culture Advisory member representing Precinct 3. Her confirmation took place on March 10, during Harris County Commissioners Court.
Tracey L. Moore
The panel, officially named the Harris County African American Cultural Heritage Commission, is also comprised of Tanya Debose, Debra Blacklock-Sloan, Carl Davis, and Melody Fontenot. Their work will include protecting sites with key significance related to local African-American histories, such as cemeteries and churches, and advising Harris County on how to preserve history and culture, particularly in historically black neighborhoods facing the risk of gentrification or being erased.
Moore was nominated for her spot by Tiffany Thomas, Assistant Professor in the Master of Community Development program, not only because she lives in Precinct 3 (which encompasses mostly western Harris County, from parts of Waller, Cypress, Barker, Katy, Spring Branch, Westchase, the Galleria, and Bellaire), but also because Thomas is familiar with the work Moore does in relation to PVAMU, African-American art history, and genealogy.
“This nomination allows me to pursue one of my passions, which is historic preservation. Ever since I was a child, I have always been fascinated by people’s stories, especially my own family’s past, their stories, and the history of the communities they built,” Moore said. “With the collaboration of close and distant relatives, we have been able to weave the fabric of our ancestors’ lives. Now I can turn my energy toward doing the same thing for Harris County.”
According to Moore, commission members essentially have to start with what they know and go from there.
“This will take an effort of getting oral histories, church records, cemetery records, census records, maps, plantation records, slave schedules, and other items to find more information about our communities and their residents,” said Moore.
The commission plans to eventually hold monthly meetings with constituents in their precincts to start documenting these stories. Various communities, such as Independence Heights and Barrett Station, have already begun work to preserve their history. The commission wants to bring all of the work under one umbrella. They will also aim to work with families and descendants of original settlers to start documenting their own genealogical records and family trees.
“Families may be sitting on documents, photographs, land deeds and titles, and more that can help us reconstruct these forgotten communities,” said Moore.
Moore’s main goals for her role on the panel are to discover and recover the histories of the African-Americans living in the area of Precinct 3, share these stories with the rest of the state and nation, and combine these stories with other African-American communities in Harris County.
“We have a rich heritage here in Harris County,” she said. “As African-Americans, we have a history in the country and in this state. We must work to preserve the history so that our future generations can know the impact that these communities had on the growth of the state and how our people endured through almost insurmountable odds. The time for these stories to be told and shared around the world is long overdue.”
Each member on the Harris County African American Cultural Heritage Commission will serve a two-year term.
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By Emilia Benton