The Texas African American History Monument may actually be placed on the Capitol ground someday thanks to pushing by Bill Jones, an Austin lawyer-lobbyist, with connections to the Texas GOP.  The monument would celebrate Texas’ rich history of African-Americans beginning with Estevanico de Doranates and including aviator Bessie Coleman, singer Scott Joplin, world heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson, World War II hero Dorie Miller and Congresswoman Barbara Jordan. The San Antonio Express-News reports on efforts to get the monument funded and built.

“At some point, I thought if I didn’t do something about this, no one would,” said Jones, 55, an Austin lawyer-lobbyist, who at one time was general counsel to Gov. Rick Perry. “This is part of my history. … But it’s the state’s history.”

State Rep. Sylvester Turner, a Houston Democrat and fifth-generation Texan who is a descendant of slaves, agreed. As the chairman of the Texas Black Legislative Caucus, he has for years advocated for a Capitol monument highlighting the achievements of African-Americans in Texas. 

“This will be a powerful depiction of history that I think will speak powerfully to every Texan,” said Turner, who is a board member of the Texas African American History Memorial Foundation, which is building the monument.

So far, Jones and other supporters said, about $750,000 has been raised to get the two-sided African-American Texas History Memorial underway, after receiving approval for the project from the State Preservation Board, which manages the statehouse grounds.

Fundraising is ongoing to secure the rest, and officials said Denver-based sculptor and historian Ed Dwight has been commissioned to produce what promises to be a showcase memorial near Texas’ seat of government.

Image from the monument model of Estevanico de Dorantes, a slave in the party of Cabeza de Vaca who is believed to be the first African to have set foot in Texas.