Born out of the struggle for equality, Texas Southern University (TSU) was formally established by the 50th Texas Legislature on March 3, 1947. Founded as the Texas State University for Negroes and given its current moniker in 1951, the University's primary mission was to establish a creditable college for African American students.

After its inception, Texas Southern University was the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to house a law school, and was also the first state-supported institution in the city of Houston. Its pioneering spirit continues today.

Prior to its celebrated inauguration, Texas Southern University was owned by the Houston Independent School District (HISD) and known as the Houston College for Negroes in 1935. In a racially segregated society, the college offered African-Americans in Texas an opportunity for higher education. In a bold move for its time, the Texas Legislature bought the campus from HISD for $2 million and transplanted an established state-supported law school for blacks to the University.

The University acquired the law school, which was originally located in Austin, Texas, and also created in 1947, following mail carrier Heman Marion Sweatt's court battle to be accepted into an all-white Texas school of law. The Law School awarded its first Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 1950 and was later named the Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 1976.

As the reputation of Texas Southern University grew, so did awareness about its community influence and significance. Over the years, the University's educational facilities and programs expanded, and many of its graduates began to achieve local, regional, and national recognition for their influence in politics, education, business, technology, medicine, and the arts. The University grew from one permanent building and several temporary structures to the 45-building, 150-acre campus that exists today.

Texas Southern University's academic curriculum is organized into eight schools, and the University has awarded more than 38,000 degrees during its 55-year history. Some of TSU's well-known graduates include the late U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan and Congressman George "Mickey" Leland.

In 1973, the Legislature designated Texas Southern University as a "special purpose institution for urban programming," after concluding that its educational programs and services particularly suited the needs of urban residents. Upholding this distinction, TSU's academic programs continue to provide training to professionals in the most critical areas of urban concern: environmental, health, education, public works, law enforcement, justice, city planning, and business.

Though its beginnings were humble, Texas Southern University is heralded as a pioneer, and distinguishes itself as one of the leading producers of African American scholars that obtain collegiate, professional, and graduate degrees in the state, as well as the nation. The University's enrollment has grown from 2,303 students to more than 9,700 undergraduate and graduate students from across the world. Although the University was initially established to educate African Americans, it has become one of the most ethnically diverse institutions in Texas.