Wall featuring photographs of the PVIL's life members
Our community is remembering a time when things were a little different. Robert Brown is a member of the Prairie View Interscholastic League—a circle of African American high schools that used to compete for Texas state championships. He has partnered with the University of Texas to create an exhibit honoring the accomplishments of African American coaches and athletes all the way back to the 1920’s.
“We don’t want our legacy to die and that’s what we’re trying to do here,” Brown said.
PVIL schools weren’t allowed to compete with the white high schools during this time period and Roby says it wasn’t so much of a problem because PVIL high schools played on one side of I-35 and the white high schools played on the other side of the highway. And in a time of segregation, Brown says spirit was never lost.
“We built relationships with the white teams. They would come and see us play even though we couldn’t participate against them and we would go and see them play,” Robert Brown, PVIL president said.
It wasn’t until 1965 when the PVIL joined the league of white high schools and integration hit local Austin high schools.
Roby says, “It was a sigh of relief. We enjoyed it. And its still a competitive edge, white against black, is not there anymore because everybody’s mixed.”
Competition was no longer separated, but the talent and perseverance of former PVIL coaches and athletes carries on…shaping many of these high school players into professionals.
Roby talked about the athletes that went on to do greater things. “They were the direct results from the PVIL going to HPC universities, historical black colleges. They went to the pros and they made a name for themselves.”
It was two years ago that memorabilia started pouring in from members of the community…including trophies, footballs, jackets, and pictures. Coaches and athletes are still sending in their memories to finally complete the exhibit. Former PVIL coach Edward Roby stresses the importance of the exhibit in helping keep the memories of their league alive.
“We’re trying to let kids know this was good you can still have this and because we weren’t integrated doesn’t mean we were lesser people just in a different situation.”
Robert Brown agrees with Roby and says, “It is important to remind us of past glory, past history and past achievements of young African American and female athletes throughout the state of Texas, who have gone onto greater heights in pro football pro basketball, tennis, swimming.”
The exhibit is in 11th street to the East of 35 and reminds the Austin community about a part of its history that now, will never be lost.
