Come out and learn about the impacts of race and racism on Austin’s creeks and springs. In this presentation, Dr. Pace will show how race and racism have impacted Austin’s waterways, focusing on the divergent development of downtown Austin’s Shoal and Waller creeks, and on the development of Bouldin Springs, which once fed South Austin’s Bouldin Creek.
Dr. Katherine Leah Pace is an award-winning urban environmental historian with a background in social history and permaculture, she studies the historic and contemporary interplay between water and social forces in Austin, Texas. Her research traces the history of Black and Brown community formation and dispossession in the city, showing how natural hazards shaped the evolution of Austin’s racial geographies, and how racism shaped the evolution of the Austin’s natural geographies, in turn. This work encourages readers to reckon with the impacts of racism on Black and Brown communities, and to pay attention to – and deepen readers’ relationship with – land and water in the city.
Attendees will learn about Austin’s historic Black riparian communities, the creeks that ran through these communities, the springs that fed these creeks, and the parks that line their banks. This presentation will show that like most other things in our nation and city, natural landscapes are not immune from the racial forces that plague our society.
This will take place at La Madeleine’s restaurant located on Brodie Lane close to the 290 intersection.
Come anywhere from 6:30 pm to 7 pm to get your food ordered and drinks purchased, and to socialize. Not hungry? La Madeleine has many delicious small desserts! We will be meeting in a private room in the back, and will start the program at 7 pm and after their presentation there will be a time for questions. We will wrap up around 8 pm, but feel free to linger until 8:30 pm.
For a menu check out: https://lamadeleine.com/
