079: A History of Tenth Street Historic District Freedmans Town
In this episode, we explore the story of 10th Street, one of the most important surviving Freedman’s Town landscapes in the United States. Long before I-35 cut through Oak Cliff, 10th Street was a thriving African American community built by formerly enslaved people and their descendants. Through churches, schools, businesses, homes, and family networks, residents created a neighborhood where generations could live, work, worship, and build a future together.
We trace the rise of neighborhood institutions while looking at the people who shaped the community and the lasting impact they had on Dallas. We also examine how roads, urban renewal, and decades of disinvestment fractured the neighborhood, and how descendants and preservationists are working to recover and protect its history today. This is a story about resilience, memory, and why 10th Street still matters.
Behind the Scenes
