Celebrating San Antonio’s African American and Black Cultural Context Statement & “A Home, a Church, and a Hospital” Graphic Novel

The African American Heritage Preservation Initiative is a multi-year initiative taken by the Office of Historic Preservation aiming to identify, promote, and preserve San Antonio’s African American cultural heritage through community collaboration, surveying historically African American neighborhoods, and thoughtful, thorough research.

During this celebratory event, the Office of Historic Preservation will share two major products from the initiative, San Antonio’s first cultural context statement and a graphic novel. The African American and Black Cultural Context Statement is a tool and a resource to help the community, researchers, and preservationists identify important places, events, and forms of intangible heritage such as music, songs, dances, spirituality, festivals, even parade routes. Cultural context statements also help make decisions about preserving cultural heritage. This work will result in local landmark designations, National Register listings, historic markers, and other forms of commemoration.

The graphic novel titled “A Home, a Church & a Hospital: The Development of East San Antonio” tells the story of how Charles Bellinger, Greater Corinth Baptist Church, and two nurses helped to shape the Eastside and contributed to San Antonio’s African American history.