HATTIE MAE WHITE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT CENTER
4400 W. 18th St.
When former teacher Hattie Mae White (1916-1993) was elected
to the HISD Board of Education in 1958, she was the first African American
elected to public office in Texas in the 20th century. She led the
effort to desegregate Houston’s schools, undeterred despite racist attacks.
White also was elected to the YWCA Metropolitan Board of Directors, where she
served for six years. After being defeated for a third term with HISD, she
returned to teaching and retired at age 70. She attended Booker T. Washington
High School and the former Texas Southern University before graduating from
what is now Prairie View A&M University. The HISD district headquarters
building on Richmond was named in her honor, as is the new building on W. 18th
Street that replaced it.