African Americans formed a unique ethnic identity in Texas while facing the problems of societal and institutional discrimination as well as colorism for many years. The first person of African heritage to arrive in Texas was Estevanico, who came to Texas in 1528.
Many African Americans in Texas remained in slavery until after the U.S. Civil War ended. There was scarce Union Army activity in Texas, preventing them from joining the Northern lines. Some escaped over the borders to areas where the Union Army was operating. The announcement of emancipation happened to be delayed until June 19, 1865, when officials announced that slavery had been formally abolished. This is celebrated in Texas as "Juneteenth."
A 2014 University of Texas at Austin study stated that the state's capital city of Austin was the only U.S. city with a fast growth rate that was losing African Americans due to suburbanization and gentrification.
A large majority of African Americans in Texas live in the Greater Houston area, Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, San Antonio area, Beaumont-Port Arthur area, and Austin area.
There are seven Historically black colleges and universities HBCUs in Texas. Texas Southern University (largest) and Prairie View A&M University (second largest) are the two largest HBCUs and annually produces a significant portion of degreed African American Texans. The schools are also major SWAC sports rivals. In addition to the descendants of the state's former slave population, many African American college graduates have come to the state for work recently in the New Great Migration.