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

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

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Reflections on Electoral Organizing

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

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Austin, Texas

Reflections on falling in love with Austin, Texas Continue reading

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Cascading Grief

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

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

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

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Most Popular Vox Populi Posts for 2021

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…

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On Becoming a Texas Lawyer

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

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A Lesson for Thirty

New decade, same fundamental driving force.
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Andrew Reginald Hairston: Husky Boy

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…

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Husky Boy

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

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