Author Archives: andrewrhairston

About andrewrhairston

Andrew Reginald Hairston is a civil rights attorney, writer, proud bisexual man, and doting uncle who divides his time almost equally between Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. He loves, fights for, and writes about Black people.

Beauty & Pain

Posted on December 31, 2022 by andrewrhairston

Another year concludes. 2022 seemingly brought every experience imaginable. It made me reflect deeply on the fullness of this journey — its beauty & its pain. It’s sitting in a beautiful interfaith service and grappling with the persistence of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Reflections on Electoral Organizing

Posted on August 22, 2022 by andrewrhairston

This piece first appeared on Red Fault, Austin DSA’s blog, on August 21, 2022. The evening of Tuesday, March 1, 2022 grew increasingly somber as the hours passed by. With the expert coordination of Austin DSA, my campaign collaborated with … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Austin, Texas

Posted on June 6, 2022 by andrewrhairston

Reflections on falling in love with Austin, Texas Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Cascading Grief

Posted on May 3, 2022 by andrewrhairston

For James Robinson, 1987-2022. For millions of Black people across history. I learned of James’ death on an elevated portion of I-35 near downtown Austin. Up to that point, being suspended from the ground matched the mood of the evening. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Update: Publicly Holding the Staff of the Texas Board of Law Examiners Accountable for Anti-Black Racism

Posted on January 30, 2022 by andrewrhairston

Thank you all so much for the outpouring of love and support as I shared the details of my arduous ordeal to become a Texas attorney. On January 10, 2022, I submitted a formal complaint to the executive director of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Most Popular Vox Populi Posts for 2021

Posted on December 30, 2021 by andrewrhairston

Originally posted on Vox Populi:
At the end of each year, I enjoy compiling a list of the Vox Vopuli posts which attracted the most viewers. This year, for the first time, I’m also noting the single most popular post…

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

On Becoming a Texas Lawyer

Posted on December 6, 2021 by andrewrhairston

I recited the required oath and officially became a Texas lawyer on November 30, 2021. After starting the process in 2019, and delaying it a few times to navigate the coronavirus pandemic, I sat for the Texas Bar in February … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A Lesson for Thirty

Posted on July 5, 2021 by andrewrhairston

New decade, same fundamental driving force.
Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Andrew Reginald Hairston: Husky Boy

Posted on May 15, 2021 by andrewrhairston

Originally posted on Vox Populi:
  . People of a certain age will remember the dominance of JCPenney in the 1990s. Affordable, comfortable clothes adorned the shelves of the department store’s various branches; it offered enough name brands to make…

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Husky Boy

Posted on May 15, 2021 by andrewrhairston

This piece originally appeared in Vox Populi Public Sphere on May 15, 2021. People of a certain age will remember the dominance of JCPenney in the 1990s. Affordable, comfortable clothes adorned the shelves of the department store’s various branches; it … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment