Name Barton Springs Bathhouse for Joan Means Khabele
Austin Mayor, City Council, Parks and Recreation Department Board Members and PARD Director
The signers of this petition urge the City of Austin to name the Bathhouse at Barton Springs Pool for Joan Means Khabele. An application form and the $365 application fee has been submitted to Austin Parks and Recreation.
This proposal to recognize Joan Means Khabele by gracing the bathhouse at Barton Springs Pool with her name carries an extraordinary potential to inspire. Joan's youthful valor, marked by her resolute stand against segregation, sparked a movement that rippled through the civil rights era. Her tenacity not only reshaped the heart of our city but also paved the way for the desegregation of Barton Springs Pool—making it a place of joy for all and a beacon of change, inclusivity and unity for our community.
The bathhouse at Barton Springs Pool should be named to honor Joan Means Khabele because her courageous leadership when she was a teenager to protest segregation at the pool sparked the civil rights era swim-ins that eventually led to the desegregation of Barton Springs Pool. Her actions touched the hearts of the city, changed our city’s values and led to the desegregation of the pool.
Joan was born October 22, 1942 at Holy Cross Hospital in east Austin. She attended Blackshear Elementary School and Kealing Junior High. She was among the third group of students to integrate Austin High School in the late 1950s. In her senior year, after not being allowed to swim at her high school senior picnic, she was the first Black person to jump into Barton Springs Pool in an act of civil disobedience. In doing so, she sparked a movement of swim-ins that took place on a weekly basis throughout the summer of 1960.
Joan opposed segregationist policies forbidding black Austinites from swimming in Barton Springs Pool. She organized her classmates to sign petitions and led a protest at an Austin City Council meeting. She led the first swim-in at Barton Springs Pool during her senior class picnic held at Zilker Park. Joan organized multiple swim-ins where Austin High School students were joined by students from Huston-Tillotson University, The University of Texas at Austin and St Edwards University in protest of segregation leading to the desegregation at BartonSprings Pool and Zilker Park years before passage of the 1964 federal civil rights laws.
The City of Austin proclaimed April 9, 2022 as Joan Means Khabele Day in the City of Austin and held a ceremony to honor her at Barton Springs Pool attended by the Mayor of Austin, several City Council Members, members of Joan’s family, as well as many other community members excited to recognize Joan and her valuable contribution to making Barton Springs a place of beauty open for all Austinites and visitors from around the world to enjoy.
Joan’s activism began in the 1950s when she was among the third group of students to integrate Austin High. She remained active in the civil rights movement after graduating from the elite University of Chicago and she later earned a master’s degree in African Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles.
After tutoring kids in Chicago, Joan joined the Peace Corps and moved to Ethiopia. After her return to the US,she met her husband, Dr. Paseka Edwin Khabele, who is from South Africa, while he was earning his doctorate at Fordham University in New York City.
Joan founded the African Studies departments at the national universities of Zambia, Botswana, and Lesotho, and her influence in African universities extended as far north as Nigeria. She remained active through her life in leadership roles for nonprofits in the U.S. and Africa.
She was a consummate classical pianist, sang in the National Opera of Lesotho and in the choir of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Austin. She played on the national tennis team of Lesotho, was an avid gardener and artcollector, and supported countless children with their educations in Lesotho and South Africa.
Joan and her husband had three children — Dineo, Inonge and the late Letsie “Khotso” Khabele, the founder of Austin’s Khabele School — and eight grandchildren.
An educator, activist, musician and avid traveler, Joan was an active member of the Town Lake Chapter of the Links Inc. and served on the boards of the Austin-Maseru Sister Cities Committee, St. Stephen’s Episcopal School and the Khabele School (now Headwaters), which was founded by her late son Khotso Khabele.
Joan Means Khabele died in October 2021. She was 78.
Listen to Joan in an interview from 2014 on Austin PBS.Today, Barton Springs Pool is the soul of Austin. The crown jewel of our city. It is the gathering place for people from all over Austin and around the world. A true oasis of history, nature, and recreation located in the very heartof Austin. When people think of Austin, they think of Barton Springs. When people visit Barton Springs, they walk through the gates and you can hear them exhale sighs of wonder, “it’s so beautiful”. They are not just talking about the natural beauty of the pool, they see it is a wonderful gathering place that welcomes everyone from all walks of life. It is where we as a community come together to enjoy life with our families, friends and loved ones.
Joan Means Khabele’s vision, leadership skills and courage to make her vision a reality made Barton Springs Poolwhat it is today. We owe it to her memory, and to everyone who enters the bathhouse, to recognize her significantcontributions to the City of Austin. I imagine a photo or work of art of Joan near the entrance of the bathhouse and can see people nodding in silent tribute, throwing her a kiss or waving thank you as they enter the gates and touch the soul of Austin.
We look forward to seeing parents bend down to answer their children’s questions while they wait in line, “Who is that, mom?”
Joan's story embodies what Martin Luther King, Jr., reminded us about when he said “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Gracing the bathhouse with Joan’s name will create moments of reflection that echo the past while propelling us into the future. A young girl once barred from entering the bathhouse due to segregation has now evolved into an enduring symbol of courage, activism, and transformation.Renaming the bathhouse in her honor isn't just a tribute; it's a powerful recognition of the strides we've taken and the path forward we will still tread.
Her actions, like pebbles cast into a pond, have sent ripples that traverse time, touching hearts through the decades and stretching into the uncharted future. When Joan's name graces the bathhouse, a place she was once denied entrance, those ripples of change will reverberate into a resounding legacy. With every footstep through its entrance, visitors will feel the resonance of Joan's stand against segregation—a stand that continues to inspire hearts across generations.
This tribute isn't confined to the past; it's an investment in the future. By honoring Joan in this way, we're making a commitment to a future that mirrors her ideals of equality and inclusivity. Just as her bravery ignited a movementthat opened Barton Springs Pool for everyone, this act to rename the bathhouse becomes a constant reminder that progress isn't static—it evolves, adapts, and thrives. Every child walking through doors to Barton Springs Pool, every family gathering by the poolside, will be touched by Joan's spirit, guiding us towards a brighter, more just future for Austin.
Joan Means Khabele's actions are the seeds that continue to germinate and shape Austin's future. Renaming the bathhouse after her isn't merely a celebration of her courage; it's a declaration of our collective dedication to amore inclusive, accessible tomorrow. Her story and the bathhouse's renaming intersect to craft a narrative that extends beyond history—a narrative of progress, inclusivity, and the transformative power of a young girl’s actions to weave a new tapestry of community.
Through the doors of the bathhouse, a gateway of inclusivity stands open—a testament that accessibility is not just a concept; it's an embodiment of ideals. Where once the bathhouse symbolized exclusion, it now symbolizesaccessibility, welcoming everyone irrespective of their background. Joan's legacy becomes intertwined with the essence of a place that beckons forth a new era, where the barriers of the past give way to the possibilities of the present and future.
As the doors swing open, they swing open to all—a space where equity and unity thrive. Joan's legacy extends beyond the present, casting its influence on tomorrows yet to unfold. Here, individuals from diverse walks of lifewill convene, connect, and shape a future rooted in access, acceptance, and shared humanity. Joan Means Khabele's story will continue to remind us that one person's unwavering courage and ability to harness the power of her community has the power to ignite change that reverberates through time, inspiring us to stand up for justice and forge a better world for all.
Petition by
.jpeg)
To:
Austin Mayor, City Council, Parks and Recreation Department Board Members and PARD Director
From:
[Your Name]
Please name the Bathhouse at Barton Springs Pool for Joan Means Khabele. An application form and the $365 application fee has been submitted to Austin Parks and Recreation.
The signers of this petition urge the City of Austin to name the Bathhouse at Barton Springs Pool for Joan Means Khabele. An application form and the $365 application fee has been submitted to Austin Parks and Recreation.
This proposal to recognize Joan Means Khabele by gracing the bathhouse at Barton Springs Pool with her name carries an extraordinary potential to inspire. Joan's youthful valor, marked by her resolute stand against segregation, sparked a movement that rippled through the civil rights era. Her tenacity not only reshaped the heart of our city but also paved the way for the desegregation of Barton Springs Pool—making it a place of joy for all and a beacon of change, inclusivity and unity for our community.
The bathhouse at Barton Springs Pool should be named to honor Joan Means Khabele because her courageous leadership when she was a teenager to protest segregation at the pool sparked the civil rights era swim-ins that eventually led to the desegregation of Barton Springs Pool. Her actions touched the hearts of the city, changed our city’s values and led to the desegregation of the pool.
Joan was born October 22, 1942 at Holy Cross Hospital in east Austin. She attended Blackshear Elementary School and Kealing Junior High. She was among the third group of students to integrate Austin High School in the late 1950s. In her senior year, after not being allowed to swim at her high school senior picnic, she was the first Black person to jump into Barton Springs Pool in an act of civil disobedience. In doing so, she sparked a movement of swim-ins that took place on a weekly basis throughout the summer of 1960.
Joan opposed segregationist policies forbidding black Austinites from swimming in Barton Springs Pool. She organized her classmates to sign petitions and led a protest at an Austin City Council meeting. She led the first swim-in at Barton Springs Pool during her senior class picnic held at Zilker Park. Joan organized multiple swim-ins where Austin High School students were joined by students from Huston-Tillotson University, The University of Texas at Austin and St Edwards University in protest of segregation leading to the desegregation at BartonSprings Pool and Zilker Park years before passage of the 1964 federal civil rights laws.
The City of Austin proclaimed April 9, 2022 as Joan Means Khabele Day in the City of Austin and held a ceremony to honor her at Barton Springs Pool attended by the Mayor of Austin, several City Council Members, members of Joan’s family, as well as many other community members excited to recognize Joan and her valuable contribution to making Barton Springs a place of beauty open for all Austinites and visitors from around the world to enjoy.
Joan’s activism began in the 1950s when she was among the third group of students to integrate Austin High. She remained active in the civil rights movement after graduating from the elite University of Chicago and she later earned a master’s degree in African Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles.
After tutoring kids in Chicago, Joan joined the Peace Corps and moved to Ethiopia. After her return to the US,she met her husband, Dr. Paseka Edwin Khabele, who is from South Africa, while he was earning his doctorate at Fordham University in New York City.
Joan founded the African Studies departments at the national universities of Zambia, Botswana, and Lesotho, and her influence in African universities extended as far north as Nigeria. She remained active through her life in leadership roles for nonprofits in the U.S. and Africa.
She was a consummate classical pianist, sang in the National Opera of Lesotho and in the choir of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Austin. She played on the national tennis team of Lesotho, was an avid gardener and artcollector, and supported countless children with their educations in Lesotho and South Africa.
Joan and her husband had three children — Dineo, Inonge and the late Letsie “Khotso” Khabele, the founder of Austin’s Khabele School — and eight grandchildren.
An educator, activist, musician and avid traveler, Joan was an active member of the Town Lake Chapter of the Links Inc. and served on the boards of the Austin-Maseru Sister Cities Committee, St. Stephen’s Episcopal School and the Khabele School (now Headwaters), which was founded by her late son Khotso Khabele.
Joan Means Khabele died in October 2021. She was 78.
Today, Barton Springs Pool is the soul of Austin. The crown jewel of our city. It is the gathering place for people from all over Austin and around the world. A true oasis of history, nature, and recreation located in the very heartof Austin. When people think of Austin, they think of Barton Springs. When people visit Barton Springs, they walk through the gates and you can hear them exhale sighs of wonder, “it’s so beautiful”. They are not just talking about the natural beauty of the pool, they see it is a wonderful gathering place that welcomes everyone from all walks of life. It is where we as a community come together to enjoy life with our families, friends and loved ones.
Joan Means Khabele’s vision, leadership skills and courage to make her vision a reality made Barton Springs Poolwhat it is today. We owe it to her memory, and to everyone who enters the bathhouse, to recognize her significantcontributions to the City of Austin. I imagine a photo or work of art of Joan near the entrance of the bathhouse and can see people nodding in silent tribute, throwing her a kiss or waving thank you as they enter the gates and touch the soul of Austin.
We look forward to seeing parents bend down to answer their children’s questions while they wait in line, “Who is that, mom?”
Joan's story embodies what Martin Luther King, Jr., reminded us about when he said “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Gracing the bathhouse with Joan’s name will create moments of reflection that echo the past while propelling us into the future. A young girl once barred from entering the bathhouse due to segregation has now evolved into an enduring symbol of courage, activism, and transformation.Renaming the bathhouse in her honor isn't just a tribute; it's a powerful recognition of the strides we've taken and the path forward we will still tread.
Her actions, like pebbles cast into a pond, have sent ripples that traverse time, touching hearts through the decades and stretching into the uncharted future. When Joan's name graces the bathhouse, a place she was once denied entrance, those ripples of change will reverberate into a resounding legacy. With every footstep through its entrance, visitors will feel the resonance of Joan's stand against segregation—a stand that continues to inspire hearts across generations.
This tribute isn't confined to the past; it's an investment in the future. By honoring Joan in this way, we're making a commitment to a future that mirrors her ideals of equality and inclusivity. Just as her bravery ignited a movementthat opened Barton Springs Pool for everyone, this act to rename the bathhouse becomes a constant reminder that progress isn't static—it evolves, adapts, and thrives. Every child walking through doors to Barton Springs Pool, every family gathering by the poolside, will be touched by Joan's spirit, guiding us towards a brighter, more just future for Austin.
Joan Means Khabele's actions are the seeds that continue to germinate and shape Austin's future. Renaming the bathhouse after her isn't merely a celebration of her courage; it's a declaration of our collective dedication to amore inclusive, accessible tomorrow. Her story and the bathhouse's renaming intersect to craft a narrative that extends beyond history—a narrative of progress, inclusivity, and the transformative power of a young girl’s actions to weave a new tapestry of community.
Through the doors of the bathhouse, a gateway of inclusivity stands open—a testament that accessibility is not just a concept; it's an embodiment of ideals. Where once the bathhouse symbolized exclusion, it now symbolizesaccessibility, welcoming everyone irrespective of their background. Joan's legacy becomes intertwined with the essence of a place that beckons forth a new era, where the barriers of the past give way to the possibilities of the present and future.
As the doors swing open, they swing open to all—a space where equity and unity thrive. Joan's legacy extends beyond the present, casting its influence on tomorrows yet to unfold. Here, individuals from diverse walks of lifewill convene, connect, and shape a future rooted in access, acceptance, and shared humanity. Joan Means Khabele's story will continue to remind us that one person's unwavering courage and ability to harness the power of her community has the power to ignite change that reverberates through time, inspiring us to stand up for justice and forge a better world for all.