Episode 13: I. M. Terrell: The Foundation of Fort Worth’s Black Education System (Part 1: The Who)

Episode 16 — I. M. Terrell: The School That Carried a Community (Part 4: Where)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1328821/fan_mail/new] Where was I. M. Terrell really located in history? In this powerful fourth installment of the I. M. Terrell series, DonTheBarber explores the geography, neighborhoods, land history, and community ecosystem surrounding one of Fort Worth’s most important Black educational institutions. Because I. M. Terrell wasn’t just a school sitting on a street corner. It was rooted in:  • Chambers Hill  • East 18th Street  • Fort Worth’s historic Third Ward  • The Butler Place community  • And the evolving story of Black Fort Worth itself This episode traces the origins of the land before the school existed — from Andrew J. Chambers and the Chambers Addition… to the demographic transformation of the neighborhood during segregation… to the rise of East 18th Street as a major Black educational and cultural corridor in Fort Worth history. 🎙️ In this episode:  • The origins of Chambers Hill  • Who Andrew J. Chambers was  • How the Chambers Addition shaped East Fort Worth  • Why the school was originally built as a White campus  • The demographic shifts that transformed the neighborhood  • The redesignation of the school as a Black educational institution  • The arrival of I. M. Terrell High School in 1937  • The impact of Butler Place and urban redevelopment  • Why preserving Black places matters as much as preserving Black people This episode also explores the deeper emotional truth behind local history: That buildings carry memory.  Neighborhoods shape identity.  And geography tells stories long after generations are gone. Because every time somebody says “I. M. Terrell”… they’re also speaking to:  • Chambers Hill  • Third Ward history  • East 18th Street  • Butler Place  • And generations of Black Fort Worth families ⸻ 📍 Topics Covered:  • I. M. Terrell High School  • Chambers Hill  • Third Ward Fort Worth  • Andrew J. Chambers  • Butler Place  • Black Fort Worth history  • Segregation and urban development  • Black educational history  • East 18th Street  • Community preservation ⸻ 🎧 Listen • Share • Subscribe If this episode taught you something, share it with somebody from Fort Worth… somebody who remembers Butler Place… or somebody who needs to know this history before it disappears. And make sure you subscribe to We Got The Funk Podcast on:  • Apple Podcasts  • Spotify  • Or wherever you get your podcasts Follow DonTheBarber_817 on:  • Facebook  • Instagram  • TikTok  • YouTube Because preserving Black history starts with remembering the places that carried us. Hosted by DonTheBarber  “Your History. Our Legacy. Our Future. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1328821/support]

Episode 15 — I. M. Terrell: The School That Carried a Community (Part 3: When)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1328821/fan_mail/new] Hosted by: DonTheBarber When was I. M. Terrell at its height? In this powerful third installment of the I. M. Terrell series, DonTheBarber explores the school’s golden age — the unforgettable era from the 1930s through the 1960s when I. M. Terrell became one of the most influential Black educational and cultural institutions in Fort Worth. This episode dives into the atmosphere, excellence, pride, and pressure that shaped generations during segregation. Because Terrell wasn’t just producing graduates. It was producing leaders. Artists. Educators. Athletes. Innovators. And during this era, the school became deeply woven into the identity of Black Fort Worth. 🎙️ In this episode: • The rise of I. M. Terrell during segregation • How Black Fort Worth built its own educational ecosystem • The impact and legacy of Hazel Harvey Peace • Ornette Coleman and the school’s musical culture • The culture of discipline and excellence connected to Robert Hughes • Why schools like Terrell became community anchors • The emotional and cultural power of Black institutions during the Jim Crow era • How Terrell evolved from important… to legendary This episode also explores the deeper truth behind schools like I. M. Terrell: That greatness is rarely built alone. It’s cultivated through culture, expectation, teachers, mentorship, and community investment. And during the golden age of Terrell, all those things came together. ⸻ 📍 Featured Historical Figures: • Hazel Harvey Peace • Ornette Coleman • Robert Hughes • Generations of I. M. Terrell students, educators, musicians, and athletes ⸻ 📍 Topics Covered: • I. M. Terrell High School • Fort Worth Black history • Black education during segregation • Jazz history • Black excellence • Hazel Harvey Peace • Ornette Coleman • Robert Hughes • African-American institutions • Community legacy ⸻ 🎧 Listen • Share • Subscribe If this episode moved you, taught you something, or reminded you of someone who came through Terrell… 👉 Share this episode with somebody from Fort Worth. 👉 Post it and keep the history alive. 👉 Start a conversation with your family and elders. And make sure you follow DonTheBarber_817 on: • Facebook • Instagram • TikTok • YouTube Because preserving Black history starts with telling the stories before they disappear. Hosted by DonTheBarber “Your History. Our Legacy. Our Future. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1328821/support]

Episode 14 — I. M. Terrell: The School That Carried a Community (Part 2: What)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1328821/fan_mail/new] What was I. M. Terrell High School really? In this powerful second installment of the I. M. Terrell series, DonTheBarber goes beyond dates and buildings to explore the deeper meaning behind one of Fort Worth’s most historic Black institutions. This episode examines how I. M. Terrell became far more than a segregated school. It became:  • A symbol of Black excellence  • A cultural landmark  • A leadership incubator  • A regional educational hub  • A community anchor during segregation From its roots in Fort Worth’s first public education efforts for Black children in 1882…  to the formal naming of I. M. Terrell High School in 1921…  to its lasting impact on generations of students and leaders… this episode unpacks the layered history, pride, pain, resilience, and legacy carried inside the walls of Terrell. DonTheBarber explores:  • The origins of Black public education in Fort Worth  • Why I. M. Terrell has “multiple birthdays”  • The role Black schools played during segregation  • How Terrell shaped identity, discipline, arts, and leadership  • The emotional complexity of desegregation and closure  • Why preserving local Black history matters today Featuring reflections on the school’s influence on Fort Worth culture, alumni legacy, and the enduring power of Black institutions, this episode reminds listeners that history is not just national — it’s deeply local. Because I. M. Terrell wasn’t just a school. It was a promise. ⸻ 📍 Topics Covered:  • I. M. Terrell High School  • Black education in Fort Worth  • Segregation and desegregation  • African-American history  • Fort Worth Black history  • Community institutions  • Black educational excellence  • Opal Lee  • Reby Cary  • Cultural legacy ⸻ 🎧 Listen • Share • Subscribe If this episode spoke to you, make sure you tap in and stay connected with the movement. 👉 Follow DonTheBarber_817 on:  • Facebook  • Instagram  • TikTok  • YouTube Share the episode with somebody who loves Fort Worth history, Black culture, and stories that deserve to be remembered. Hosted by DonTheBarber  “Your History. Our Legacy. Our Future.” Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1328821/support]

Episode 13: I. M. Terrell: The Foundation of Fort Worth’s Black Education System (Part 1: The Who)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1328821/fan_mail/new] In this episode of We Got The Funk Podcast, DonTheBarber takes a powerful look at the life and legacy of Isaiah Milligan Terrell, one of the most important architects of Black education in Fort Worth history. This is more than a history lesson. This is a story about vision, sacrifice, institution-building, and the foundation of opportunity for generations of Black families in Fort Worth. From his roots in post-slavery Texas to becoming the leader of Fort Worth’s Black school system, I. M. Terrell represents what it means to build something lasting in the face of exclusion. Don breaks down how Terrell helped create a path for Black students when no real system existed and why his story still matters today. In this episode, we cover: * Who I. M. Terrell was and why his name matters * His early life in Grimes County, Texas * The legacy of his father, Alexander Terrell, and the significance of freedom, work, and ownership * Terrell’s education at Straight University in New Orleans * How he became Fort Worth’s first major Black educational leader * The church-based beginnings of Black education in Fort Worth * The founding of the East Ninth Street Colored School * His partnership with his wife, Marcelite Landry Terrell * How he trained and multiplied Black educators across the city * His rise from classroom teacher to superintendent of Fort Worth’s Black schools * Why his impact reached far beyond education into institution-building and community legacy This episode reminds us that before there were modern opportunities, there were people who built systems from scratch so others could rise. Follow DonTheBarber: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube: DonTheBarber_817 Listen, share, and help keep these stories alive. If this episode taught you something, made you think, or made you proud, send it to somebody else. Our history deserves to be heard. #WeGotTheFunk #IMTerrell #FortWorthHistory #BlackHistory #BlackEducation #DonTheBarber #TexasHistory #CommunityLegacy #CulturalHistory #FortWorth Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1328821/support]

Episode 12: Badge, Blood, and Cowtown: The Rise of Jim Courtright (Part 2)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1328821/fan_mail/new] In Part 2, DonTheBarber breaks down the final chapter of Jim Courtright—one of Fort Worth’s most debated figures. From fugitive to legend, and ultimately to a shocking death, this episode explores how power, reputation, and reality collided in Cowtown. 🎧 What You’ll Hear The Return After disappearing, Courtright resurfaces and walks back into Fort Worth like nothing happened—welcomed and even deputized again. Railroad Violence During a major strike, an ambush at Buttermilk Junction leads to chaos. Over 100 shots are fired, and Courtright survives—but his image takes a hit. Power Moves He shifts into running a detective agency, but rumors of protection money and influence begin to blur the line between lawman and enforcer. Final Showdown A confrontation with gambler Luke Short outside the White Elephant Saloon ends it all. Courtright is outdrawn and never fires a shot. Legacy Hero or villain? Courtright’s story reflects a Fort Worth still figuring out its identity. 🧠 Key Themes * Myth vs Reality * Power & Control * Law vs Lawlessness * Legacy & Reputation 📍 Featured Locations * White Elephant Saloon (Fort Worth) * Buttermilk Junction * Oakwood Cemetery (Fort Worth) 💬 Quotable Moment “I would rather be in a pine coffin in Fort Worth… than be alive anywhere else.” 📢 Call to Action If this episode made you think: 👉 Share it with someone who loves real Texas history 👉 Follow DonTheBarber_817 on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube 🎧 About the Podcast We Got The Funk Podcast brings Fort Worth history to life through real storytelling, culture, and community. “We don’t just tell stories… we restore legacy.” 🎙️ Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1328821/support]