Denton, Texas- Texas Woman’s University (TWU) has dedicated a memorial honoring Quakertown, a historic Black neighborhood in Denton whose residents were displaced to make way for a city park.
The dedication ceremony brought together descendants of Quakertown families, TWU staff and students, Denton residents and local elected officials. Descendants reflected on their family histories and the significance of seeing their former neighborhood remembered, while TWU Chancellor Carine Feyten acknowledged the university’s historical role in the community’s displacement and the importance of confronting difficult parts of the past.
The memorial’s creation was also inspired by questions raised by former TWU student Anne Jensen-Smith about the university’s accountability and what could be done to address its history. The memorial now offers a place for remembrance, reflection and conversations about the experiences of Quakertown’s residents and their descendants.
BJ Lewis reports for Context Corner on the memorial dedication and efforts to preserve Quakertown’s history for future generations.