Howard Middleton and Integration at the Port of Houston

Howard Middleton served as the first Black Port Commissioner in Houston from 1978 to 1996. He was a former Manpower programs director and labor executive when he was appointed to the Port of Houston Authority’s Port Commission. Middleton played a crucial role in the development of the Houston Foreign Trade Zone and was instrumental in the appointment of the Port’s first Black ship pilot, Paul Brown. He passed away in 2023.

In this episode, we will continue the theme of race and labor at the Port of Houston, and you'll hear excerpts from Jason Theriot's 2006 interview with Howard for the University of Houston's Center for Public History. This is our third episode on this topic. If you haven't heard our previous episodes, I would suggest going back to episode 19 to hear about the original project, the history of the port and ship channel, an ...