Introduction Panel

Entrepreneur, Creative and Advocate, Eugene Coleman used his talents to enrich and highlight the Black community. When one person tells a community's story, its history never dies, its ancestors are never forgotten, and its legacy is passed on to new generations. We each have talents that will make a difference in our community. What is your legacy?

Once the panels are completed, the panel designs will be uploaded. This is the information for each area.

Click here to access a script to work with.

ADVOCATE

Eugene Coleman was drafted shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941. He was officially enlisted on August 5, 1942. Private Coleman and 168 other African American soldiers were shipped to multiple bases in Texas before finally stationed at Brooks Field, San Antonio, Texas. Quickly promoting to acting Sergeant, he challenged military segregation. His advocacy:

• Resulted in an integrated Chapel Service,

• Removal from discriminatory kitchen duty

• Stopped the practice of non-white soldiers performing exterior building cleanup duties for all-white squadrons, and

• A noncommissioned officer’s club on Brooks Field, Texas.

These victories led him to the Brooks Field Observer, the base newspaper, as a photographer. His advocacy work is a recurring theme throughout his life. After discharge, February 1946, Mr. Coleman opened a Photography Studio.

COMMUNITY

Mr. Coleman participated in the Bexar County Economics Opportunity Development Corporation (EODC) The EODC was a community action agency focused on antipoverty programs. As part of the EODC, Mr. Coleman traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for funding for the Carver Community Cultural Center, the Claude Black Center, Westside Multipurpose Center and the Barbara Jordan Center.

Mr. Coleman also raised money for Henry Logan, a local San Antonian who needed a Heart Transplant. The transplant was successful.

On Jul 24, 1963, Mr. Coleman traveled with G J Sutton and Henry Munoz to Washington DC to advocate for job programs in San Antonio.

He was the Director of Project ABLE (Acceptance By Learning and Earning) in May 1976. Project ABLE was a rehabilitation and printing apprenticeship program geared toward assisting former narcotics addicts. Mr. Coleman’s efforts led to $300,000 Texas Criminal Justice grant.

Mr. Coleman started the “Count My Blessings Hall of Fame” to raise funds for senior programs initiated by Mrs. Zernona Black, the wife of Rev Claude Black Jr. Each year a gathering of government officials and the community recognized people for their contributions to the African American community. The intent was to ensure ALL people were recognized for their accomplishments. Count My Blessings raised money for Ms. Black’s initiatives, provided college scholarships and supported programming at St. Philip’s College. Mr. Coleman enlisted local and national talent like Michael Ward, Jesse Dixon, and Spot Barnett plus he garnered City Proclamations to support the event. One year, the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra accompanied local gospel choirs. Between 1984 and 2004, the program raised $400,000 for various initiatives.

Mr. Coleman received recognition for his community work. Organizations recognizing Mr. Coleman’s work includes the City of San Antonio, the City of San Antonio MLK Commission, NAACP and “Count My Blessings Hall of Fame”.

SNAP

32 inch Digital Touchscreen Kiosk - There are 16 issues loaded on the digital kiosk. To view the issues on this platform, you will need to scroll up and down. The kiosk does not require much up and down scrolling.

The Beginning

In 1949, Reverend Claude Black, Mr. G.J. Sutton, Mr. Bernard Adams gathered together to discuss a newspaper. With their encouragement, Mr. Coleman agreed and Black, Sutton, and Coleman joined forces to co-found SNAP. The four men believed more attention should be placed on local African American Community concerns, including police brutality.

Coleman says, “The Snap actually started as a result of a meeting between Rev. Claude W. Black, Bernard Adams and myself and the late G. J. Sutton. Our desire was to organize a community-based civil rights paper which would keep the people informed as a mouthpiece to voice their concerns.”

Off & Running

SNAP, published on the Eastside was the source for civil rights activities, segregated business practices, and politicians to be watched. The first issue of SNAP was printed in 1949. The Snap, like a microscope magnified issues in the community for all to see.

Advocacy through the SNAP Front Page

Police Brutality Examples

1956 - Jack Nelson shot by police.

1959 - David Henson killed by police.

1968 - Bobby Joe Phillip

Numerous editions - the Nebraska St. Underpass, improved and renamed the Eugene E. Coleman Underpass in 1993.

Adding to the advocacy, Mr. Coleman incorporated areas of community interest including galas, community recognition and other special events from the Black community.

Mentoring Others

Mr. Coleman mentored young African American journalists and civic leaders. He was known for showcasing their work in the paper. The late, Sports writer Harry Page, (first African American columnist at the San Antonio Express News). said his time as the SNAP Sports Editor, groomed him for the position at the San Antonio Express News Sports Department. Express-News Columnist, Cary Clack credits Coleman with giving him the support that launched his journalism career.

Mr. Coleman sold the paper in 2009 and it is still published as the SNAP.

CREATIVE

SINGER

Mr. Coleman was a singer in a male chorus at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, San Antonio known as the Kings of Harmony. The group traveled throughout the city singing at various churches. Click the titles to hear the audio. These audio files will be playing from a speaker above the introduction panel.

ENTREPRENEUR

PHOTOGRAPHER

Mr. Coleman opened the first African American Photography Studio in San Antonio in the late 1940s because no studios took pictures of Black people. The Coleman Studio was located in St. Paul Square where he had a loyal following. (2 Pictures, Sycamore and dark rom)

His first dark room was in the rear of 319 Pine St.

He was also a regular photographer at the Keyhole Club, a local club owned by Don Albert, where performers like Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, and Actress Ann Henry performed. Mr. Coleman filled a need in the community, helping African American to see themselves in photographs.

EBONY

Mr. Coleman was one of the original staff members of Ebony and JET magazines. He worked as a “stringer” and his job was to cover all major stories in San Antonio, Dallas and Houston. His efforts facilitated getting the news in these cities to the national audience

REAL ESTATE

Mr. Coleman owned the Building where the SNAP was published at Houston and Hackberry. The building housed other businesses including a Chicken Stand, a small café and a beauty salon/barbershop.

Affectionately called the SNAP house, the building was used for meeting space and served meals to the homeless out of one the windows.

Mr. Coleman also owned a number of rental properties.