From the austere and humble prairie beginnings to the deeply felt civic pride that pervades Pleasantville today, not one streetlamp is taken for granted. Not in Pleasantville. Not ever. Founded by two visionary developers, a middle-class community grew. But it wasn't easy-not by a long shot.
Melvin Silverman and his cousin Bernard Paul were on to something when they envisioned a community for African Americans. Even though deed restrictions were a caveat, the idea of a community right outside Houston for people of color was an enticing one, and people came.
Unfortunately, the municipal advantages most neighborhoods enjoy did not come as quickly as the people.
In the post World War II era, many were interested in this burgeoning community, but housing, in the form of apartments, could not keep up. With pressure from residents, accommodations expanded to homes, homes grew into streets, and streets grew into neighborhoods.
Pleasantville is a subdivision founded on the kind of grit that only comes from great struggle. Residents worked tirelessly to expand transportation options, add bus routes, roads, and civic organizations. From churches to schools to shopping centers, the people of Pleasantville persisted in a way that is purely American.
About the Author: Talmadge Sharpe Sr. was born in Center, Texas. After high school, he attended Prairie View A&M University. The Armed Forces draft paused his education, but after his service, he returned to college where he met the love of his life, Geneva Crawford.
The couple settled in the Pleasantville community where their family grew along with the town. In time, children Talmadge Jr., Cleophus, Sandra, and Benita were born.
Talmadge and Geneva have always been advocates for their community and Prairie View A&M University. Talmadge's philosophy is "When you are not satisfied with conditions, you organize and work to improve those conditions." This motto motivated him to help found the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church, local elementary school, the park and recreation center, and library, to name a few.
In addition to their four children, Talmadge and Geneva have five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
