More Black Americans live in Texas than any other state. Two years after George Floyd’s murder, many reconsider their future here.

Chas Moore at the Austin Justice Coalition office, a community organization that serves Black and brown Texans through advocacy and policy reform, on July 21.

Credit:
Cindy Elizabeth for The Texas Tribune

Professor Karen Kossie-Chernyshev in front of a mural celebrating Black leaders at the Fifth Ward, a historic neighborhood in Houston. In 2021, Texas lawmakers redrew political maps that weakened the impact of voters of color and secured the GOP’s majority in the state Legislature.

Credit:
Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune

Faith Anderson does yoga on July 21 in Rosewood Neighborhood Park in East Austin, where they remember spending time with their family members playing and swimming as a child. “I do think we are the people who are reflecting and giving fun and a breath of air to this painful society,” Anderson said.

Credit:
Cindy Elizabeth for The Texas Tribune

Perseverance and pain

Designer and stylist Kevin Black, far-left, and X, center, co-founder of House of Rebirth, watch Jaylind Stoker as she shows off her outfit in a dressing room during a back-to-school event for LGBTQ+ youth in Allen.

Credit:
Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune

X is co-founder of House of Rebirth, a Dallas organization advocating for Black trans women. Nearly 20 years ago, they helped during recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the cataclysmic Louisiana hurricane that killed more than 1,800 mostly Black people and displaced millions of others.

Credit:
Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune

Elias Stoker shows off their outfit after changing in a dressing room during the back-to-school event hosted by House of Rebirth, the Marsha P. Johnson Institute and H&M.

Credit:
Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune

A budding leader

Naomi Green, a member of the board of directors for Texas Pride Impact Funds, in her home in Garland on July 29. “You’re waiting on the next thing to happen. You’re waiting on the next law, you’re waiting on the next executive order,” Green said.

Credit:
Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune

Targeted on two fronts

Ryan Douglas in downtown Austin on July 27. Douglas doesn’t want to live in Texas long term after she graduates, partly because she’s lost faith that women of color will gain equitable political ground.

Credit:
Cindy Elizabeth for The Texas Tribune

“Everything you were put on this Earth to be”

First: Ashton Woods, co-founder and lead organizer of Black Lives Matter Houston, continues to mobilize voters and has even run for office. Last: Milton Harris, executive director of 100 Black Men of San Antonio, runs a training center that mentors Black youth in self-empowerment.

Credit:
Annie Mulligan and Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribune

Milton Harris interacts with students at the 100 Black Men of San Antonio training center on July 22.

Credit:
Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribune