By Cynthia Silva
In Cleveland, Texas, there is a community whose story is deeply tied to education, leadership and the power of civic participation. For generations, Precinct 20 has been more than a political boundary. It has been a neighborhood where families built strong connections, where educators shaped future leaders and where residents understood the importance of having a voice in their community.
Former Cleveland resident Nydia Thomas shared her reflections about the history of Precinct 20 in a conversation with El Amanecer Texas/Bluebonnet News. Her memories paint a picture of a place that, for many years, served as both the cultural and political heart of Cleveland’s Black community.
To understand Precinct 20, Thomas said it is important to understand how the area came to be known by that name.
The impact of voting rights
Before major voting protections were established in the 1960s, communities across the South often faced barriers that prevented many Black citizens from participating in elections. In many places, systems such as literacy tests, poll taxes and intimidation were used to discourage or block voters from registering or casting a ballot. These practices were especially common in Southern states, where segregation shaped nearly every part of daily life.
Those barriers began to change with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The federal law was designed to enforce the constitutional right to vote and eliminate discriminatory practices that had long been used to suppress minority voters. The law banned literacy tests and allowed the federal government to monitor elections in areas where discrimination had been documented.
For communities across the South, including Cleveland and Liberty County, the law helped reshape the political landscape. Neighborhoods that had long been identified informally began to take on official roles within the voting system through established precincts.
In Cleveland, the area became known as Precinct 20.
A powerful voting bloc
As voter participation increased, Precinct 20 developed a reputation for being one of the most organized and politically active communities in the area.
For many years, candidates seeking local office understood that earning the support of voters in Precinct 20 could make a difference in the outcome of an election.
“If you were able to get the support of the community in Precinct 20, then you had a good chance of getting elected,” Thomas said.
Because of that influence, political candidates frequently visited the neighborhood during election seasons. Community gatherings and political meetings often took place at the gymnasium at Frederick Douglass School, located on Samuel Wiley Drive in Precinct 20, which also served as a central meeting place for residents.
The heart of the community: Frederick Douglass School
According to Thomas, the school was more than just a building. It was where the community came together to discuss issues, host events and celebrate milestones.
“There were pageants, theater performances and musicals,” she recalled. “It was a place where people gathered for all kinds of events.”
The Frederick Douglass School served Black students in Cleveland during the era of segregation. The campus functioned as an elementary school, middle school and high school for students throughout the area.
The school closed in 1967, and the Class of 1967 was the last to graduate from the segregated campus before integration. Thomas said she attended Douglass School in first and second grade before integration.
“It was the cultural and spiritual center of the community,” Thomas said. “You really had to experience it to understand what it meant.”
A family legacy of education and service
Thomas’ own family became closely connected to the community after moving to Cleveland in the 1950s.
Her parents arrived in the United States from Panama in the late 1940s to pursue higher education. Her father attended Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, while her mother enrolled at Bishop College.
Eventually, her mother, Meta Thomas, was recruited to Cleveland by Dr. Harvey Franks, the principal of Frederick Douglass School.
Franks was known for bringing talented educators to the small East Texas town, something Thomas said played a major role in shaping the success of many students who came through the school.
Franks was a graduate of Columbia University, something she said was remarkable for a small East Texas town at the time.
“Can you imagine being in a small East Texas town and the principal of the high school is a Columbia University graduate?” Thomas recalled.
Meta Thomas came to Cleveland to teach Spanish at Frederick Douglass School. In addition to teaching Spanish to students, she also provided adult education classes in English as a Second Language to non-English speakers.
Over time, Meta Thomas became widely respected for her dedication to education and community service. She served on the Precinct 20 Executive Committee and remained active in civic leadership.
Leadership also ran in the family. Thomas’ father, William Thomas, made history as the first Black man elected to the Cleveland City Council. Both Meta Thomas and Nydia Thomas would later serve terms on the Cleveland City Council, continuing the family’s tradition of civic leadership and service.
Growing up in Precinct 20
Growing up in Precinct 20 meant living in a neighborhood where everyone knew one another. Many of the teachers who worked at Frederick Douglass School lived nearby, along with other community leaders and families connected to the school.
Children walked to class together, played in the same streets and grew up surrounded by mentors who took pride in guiding the next generation.
“The current Cleveland police chief lived two doors down,” Thomas recalled. “Teachers lived on our street. The mayor’s family lived across from us. We all played together as kids.”
At this time, the current police chief for the city of Cleveland is Darrell Broussard. The current mayor is Danny Lee.
Thomas smiled as she spoke about those memories, recalling a time when neighbors watched out for one another and the community felt deeply connected.
The close-knit environment helped shape a generation of students who would later go on to succeed in a wide range of professions.
Leaders shaped by the community
Although some people passing through the area today may not realize it, Thomas said many doctors, lawyers, educators and leaders came out of Precinct 20.
“There are a lot of successful people who came from that community,” she said.
One of those leaders was Bernest Mitchell, who devoted 24 years of his life to serving as a trustee on the Cleveland Independent School District Board of Trustees.
Mitchell served two terms as president of the board. He was the second Black person to serve on the Cleveland ISD Board of Trustees, the first being Jack Pilott. However, Mitchell holds the distinction of being the first Black school board president for Cleveland ISD.
Thomas also mentioned Gordon Williams, a filmmaker known for telling stories that highlight the history and experiences of Black communities.
Another leader connected to the community is Monique McDuffie, who made history as the first female mayor in Liberty County and the first African American mayor of Cleveland.
For Thomas, these achievements were not accidental.
“People understood the importance of voting and being involved,” she said.
Change over time, legacy remains
For many years, Precinct 20 was known for voting as a unified community. When local elections took place, residents turned out to support candidates they believed would represent their interests.
Because of that unity, the precinct often carried significant influence in school board elections, city races and other local contests.
Over time, however, the dynamics of the community began to change. As Cleveland grew and housing patterns shifted, many families moved to different parts of the city.
Even so, Thomas said the people who grew up in Precinct 20 have continued to make an impact far beyond the neighborhood.
She also pointed to people in Cleveland today who continue to reflect the same community spirit.
She mentioned Eisha Jones, co-founder of TUFF Kids, whose work with youth programs and community events has brought people together in meaningful ways.
Thomas said the energy around those efforts reminds her of what Precinct 20 felt like when she was growing up.
“She has a lot going on that reminds me of the spirit Precinct 20 was like,” Thomas said.
Today, Cleveland continues to grow and change, bringing new residents and new opportunities. While the circumstances that shaped Precinct 20 during earlier decades cannot be recreated, the values that defined the community — education, leadership and civic involvement — remain just as relevant.
“Our history shows us what people were able to accomplish,” she said. “When we remember that, it helps us see the possibilities for the future.”
What a great article. Mrs. Thomas, her mom, was my mentor teacher when I first started teaching in Cleveland. Without her, I don’t think I would have stayed in the profession. She was an amazing women.