
The Austin History Center has a story tell you — it’s tales of the African-American community during Travis County’s first 100 years. It’s called “Building a Community: The First Century of African-American Life in Travis County.” The exhibit begins in 1839 when the county was found, followed by the end of slavery in 1865, and follows all the way through 1940. Many freed slaves opened up businesses around town.




A dance class at the school in 2011. (Béatrice de Géa for The New York Times)
Brandon J. Dirden, left, and Jason Dirden in “Topdog/Underdog.” The actors are brothers both in real life and in the play, in Red Bank. (T. Charles Erickson)