HOUSTON – Just ahead of the Juneteenth 160 Fest, KPRC 2’s Zorrie Jones caught up with Charonda Johnson, known as the Mayor of Freedmen’s Town and Vice President of the Freedmen’s Town Conservancy in Houston’s historic Fourth Ward, also called Freedmen’s Town.
Inside one special home, Johnson opened up about her family, the challenges they’ve faced, and why preserving this neighborhood’s history means so much to her and the community.
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“I grew up in this house,” Johnson reflects, her voice filled with emotion. “Now it’s preserved not just for me or my family, but for everyone who wants to understand what life was like here. It’s a place where people can walk in and feel the spirit of what Freedmen’s Town truly is.”
Freedmen’s Town, founded by freed men and women following emancipation, has long been a sanctuary of Black history, community, and self-determination. But for Johnson, the meaning of this home runs even deeper.
“I experienced a lot in this house… My baby sister passed away here,” she shared.
She also witnessed tragedy beyond her home’s walls.
“I witnessed the Mount Horeb Missionary Baptist Church arson,” she recalls. “I saw the arsonist… My family called the fire department, but the church was wood, and it quickly went up fast.”
Johnson said those moments shaped a part of who she is today.
Despite such painful memories, Johnson speaks with pride and clarity about the strength of the community and its refusal to be erased.
“Mount Horeb Missionary Baptist Church did not want to sell to developers, so arsonists… burned down the church,” Johnson said. “The church pivoted and purchased [the lot] across the street.”
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But, as Johnson told KPRC 2, destroying the building didn’t mean ownership of the land changed hands.
“Because you burn down the church does not mean that you get the land,” she said. “These historic deeds are constructed a certain way. The land will always belong to the people, regardless of the structure.”
Today, that same spirit of resilience and community thrives, most recently in the vibrant return of Juneteenth celebrations to the neighborhood.
The 160th Juneteenth Fest in Freedmen’s Town runs from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on June 19, featuring live music, talent shows, workshops, vendors, and activities for all ages.
“I mean, for us to be here celebrating 160 years of the Emancipation Proclamation is astounding,” Johnson beams as she speaks of the day’s significance. “This is the reunification of families.”
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Johnson also mentioned the synergy in Freedmen’s Town thanks to the efforts of the Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy, the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, the City of Houston, and the local community.
“They believed in what we were doing and that they were able to stand in this fight, because we literally have been fighting this fight for decades and finally everyone sees what we see,” she said.
For those unfamiliar with Freedmen’s Town, Johnson offers a gentle reminder: “I call it a hidden gem, if you don’t know about it, you just don’t. But once you do, you’ll never forget it.”
Explore Freedmen’s Town like never before with KPRC’s interactive virtual map: Uncover hidden gems: Choose your virtual adventure in the history of Freedmen’s Town, Houston!
