Black History Month is a time for reflection and forward-looking celebration for Austin City Council member Natasha Harper-Madison, an East Austin native who says the annual observance takes on new meaning as time goes on.<\/p>\n
\u201cBlack History Month means a lot to me. You know, it’s one of those things, as human evolution happens, it means something different,\u201d Harper-Madison said. This year, she said, it represents \u201copportunity to truly celebrate our culture, our people, our origins, and our future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harper-Madison represents District 1 on the Austin City Council, which includes the East Austin area where she grew up. \u201cWhat it means to me is home, you know,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Her East Austin community elected her to the council in 2018. In 2020, Harper-Madison became the second-ever Black woman on Austin\u2019s City Council to be elected as mayor pro-tem.<\/p>\n
\u201cRepresenting East Austin is a source of pride for my family, for myself, in that we all recognize that representation matters,\u201d Harper-Madison said.<\/p>\n
ALSO | The story of Bethany Cemetery, Austin’s first Black burial ground<\/a><\/p>\n The district includes some of Austin\u2019s most historically significant sites, from Huston-Tillotson University, the city’s only Historically Black College and University, to the Overton House, Calhoun House, and others. One community leader has raised concerns about preserving that history as the area changes.<\/p>\n \u201cEast Austin is slowly disappearing, you know, the history. And it’s just important that we preserve these stories for future generations because it was once a thriving community,\u201d said Sue Spears, who grew up in Austin, and is now the president of the Bethany Cemetery Association<\/a>.<\/p>\n During her time in office, Harper-Madison has spoken publicly in support of East Austin and its legacy, pointing to earlier generations who shaped the community through service and organizing.<\/p>\n \u201cFolks in the community who committed their life to community service, them having done so in a way that future generations, they built the future generation, they did the capacity building,\u201d Harper-Madison said.<\/p>\n