Fair Park is situated just east of downtown Dallas, but its roots trace back to a time when cotton was king and racial tensions ran high.
Scholars note that by the early 1900s, Dallas had become the largest inland port for cotton, a history steeped in slavery and the Confederacy. The resurgence of white supremacy in the 1920s, fueled in part by the controversial film "The Birth of a Nation," saw the Klan's membership swell dramatically in Dallas, turning Fair Park into an epicenter of racial politics.
While its history was steeped in the Confederacy and racism, Fair Park was also a battleground for the Civil Rights Movement in Dallas.
This episode of the series reveals the work of civil rights leaders like A. Maceo Smith, who fought to bring recognition to Black achievements, which led to the establishment of the Hall of Negro Life during the Texas Centennial in 1936.
The Hall of Negro Life was a landmark exhibition showcasing the contributions of African Americans. But it was quickly dismantled, revealing the fear and resistance of the white establishment to acknowledge Black success.
Later, figures like Juanita Craft and her NAACP youth council continued the fight for desegregation, organizing protests and famously declaring, "Don't sell your pride for a segregated ride."
Watch this episode to discover how their efforts eventually culminated in the full desegregation of the fair.
RELATED | Meet the Dallas civil rights activist whose work in Fair Park inspired the play 'Travisville'
