Black Houston History Overview

Sunnyside, once known as “Baby River Oaks” is located on Houston’s south side, adjacent to South Park and south of The Third Ward. One of the city’s oldest Black neighborhoods, it was once an area outside of city limits, like Independence Heights and Acre Homes, and sat on farm land. It was purchased in 1912 by H. H. Holmes, the former City Councilman and real estate developer from which the area’s Holmes Road bears its name. According to historical record, it was Holmes who referred to the area as “the sunny side,” and his goal was to create an area exclusively for African Americans. This plan was consistent with the city’s policies around racially segregated communities and public facilities. Sunnyside was officially established three years later when the first families began moving in. Many saw this not only as an opportunity to own land, but also to afford some protection, albeit minimal, from the intense racism and terror that marked the years leading up to the 1920s in America.

To support the growing community, Sunnyside Colored County School was established in 1918, and a few years later, Mt. Vernon Baptist Church was built. Due to the nature of Sunnyside’s establishment, it worked mostly independently of the city with the school not becoming a part of Houston Independent School District until 1927 and the city not providing services like lighting and drainage. The residents organized to create their own civic club, fire department, and water district to alleviate these issues. The area continued to experience growth–doubling as both a rural and urban area. Businesses sprung up all around to support the residents, and like The Fifth Ward and The Third Ward, Sunnyside became another one of Houston’s Black Wall Streets. Some of these included Poindexter Dental and Terry’s Grocery. Amidst the growth though, the community still had to work continuously to obtain infrastructural services that were afforded to other parts of the city, particularly those in white neighborhoods. The neglect of the area by the city of Houston has been a consistent theme, and frankly, has become a part of the social fabric and character of devoted historic residents.

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The area is now bordered by 610 South, Hwy 288, Sims Bayou, Martin Luther King Boulevard, and some of its most notable streets are Scott Street, Reed Road, and Airport Boulevard. Not only are they frequented by drivers, but it is common to witness Black cowgirls and cowboys riding horses along the sidewalks amidst traffic, a legacy in line with its rural origins and with the “prancing colt” mascot of Worthing High School.

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It is home to Worthing High School, Attucks Middle School, and Young Elementary School. Evan E. Worthing, the high school’s namesake, donated his wealth which ultimately helped establish the high school in the area. Attucks Middle School bears the name of Crispus Attucks, the first martyr of the American Revolution, who was a formerly enslaved African (American). And in 1999, Sunny Side School became Young Elementary. It was named after the school’s first principal, Ethel Mosley Young. The area is also home to St. Philip Neri, one of Houston’s Black Catholic churches. This church and former school was established to support the Louisiana Creole community moving into the area in the 1950s.  

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Over the past few decades, Sunnyside has experienced many challenges, from flooding and drainage, ongoing issues which have plagued the area since it was created, to poverty and crime. Even with these challenges though, historic residents have continued to exercise their adjacency to combat them. They have even welcomed newer residents, primarily Latino, who have begun to diversify the historical Black community. But despite its challenges, many residents still see “the sunny side” that their parents, grandparents, and great grandparents saw, and remain Sunnyside proud.