Jerelyne Castleberry Williams

The Brackenridge Colored School: a Legacy of Empowerment Through Agency and Cultural Capital Inside an African American Community Jerelyne Castleberry Williams

The evolving narrative within the pages of the book uncovers the deeplyrutted paths to literacy ownership carved by turn-of-the-twentieth centuryAfrican American citizens? groups in San Antonio, Texas. The storybecomes more than a turn-of-the-twentieth century Colored school?s history;it becomes a people?s story inculcating the essence of their culturalhistory in San Antonio?s cultural landscape. Through self-deterministstrategies powered by agency and cultural capital, these literacy warriorsstep forward to stake their claim for literacy ownership. The impetus forthe establishment of the George W. Brackenridge Colored School is initiatedby a small group of Colored people who come to petition for moreschools for their children. Within the story of the citizens? groups and theBrackenridge Colored School, another person emerges as a symbol of theschool?s beginnings. The school?s namesake, George W. Brackenridge,moves in and out of the events centered on the Board?s decisions regardinglearning facilities for the Colored community. For all of his philanthropic endeavors during the nineteenth and twentiethcenturies, George W. Brackenridge remains as a memorialized symbolstill standing tall, not only in the African American communities, butin other communities and institutions through out