Black history is a never-ending journey filled with amazing and previously unknown stories. Take Katy, for example. Known for its football prowess and shopping destinations, Katy is also home to a growing Black population with a rich history that predates the city itself.
According to historian and activist Tanya Debose, Katy had a thriving Black community established right after emancipation, known as the Danover community. Despite facing challenges like gentrification, some families still hold on to their roots in Katy.
One of the early settlers in the area was Milton McGinnis, a Black man who purchased land in Katy and started a family. Over the years, the community grew with other Black families buying property in the area.
Legendary educator Odessa Kilpatrick Punchard was one of the community’s heroes, serving professionally for 42 years. The Danover community boasted churches, barbershops, blacksmiths, and its own cemetery due to segregation laws.
To preserve this important history, Debose and Brenda Washington founded the Katy, Texas African American Heritage Society (KTAAHS). They aim to raise awareness about the area’s history and prevent its destruction.
The KTAAHS is hosting the “Katy, Texas Black Heritage Family Festival” on Sept. 1 at Woodsland Park to bring attention to this little-known Black history. The event aims to educate people about the community and its significance.
To learn more about the event or the historic community, follow the Katy, Texas African American Heritage Society on social media. Contact Brenda Washington for further information at KatyBlackHeritage@gmail.com.