06/19/2026
Emily Morgan, Yellow Rose of Texas’ by Erik Christianson tells the story of one of the most legendary and debated women in Texas history. Emily D. West — often remembered as Emily Morgan — was a free Black woman from New York who came to Texas in the early 1830s to work for businessman James Morgan at his settlement near present-day Galveston Bay.
In 1836, during the Texas Revolution, Mexican General Santa Anna and his troops swept through Texas after the fall of the Alamo. During this time, Emily was reportedly captured and taken to Santa Anna’s camp before the Battle of San Jacinto. According to Texas folklore, on April 21, 1836, while Santa Anna was distracted by Emily inside his tent, General Sam Houston launched a surprise attack against the Mexican army. The battle lasted only 18 minutes and became the decisive victory that secured Texas independence from Mexico. Santa Anna was captured the following day, forever changing the course of Texas history.
Over time, Emily became associated with the famous folk song The Yellow Rose of Texas. Historically, the word ‘yellow’ was often used to describe someone of mixed Black and white heritage. Though historians still debate exactly how much of the story is fact versus folklore, Emily D. West became a symbol of the overlooked role Black women played in shaping Texas history.
This Juneteenth, we remember that Black history is Texas history. Nearly 30 years after the Battle of San Jacinto, enslaved Texans would finally learn they were free on June 19, 1865 — the day we now celebrate as Juneteenth. ‘Emily Morgan, Yellow Rose of Texas’ serves as a reminder of the resilience, influence, and lasting legacy of Black Texans whose stories deserve to be remembered and honored.
