Illustration for “The Texanist” (Reprinted with permission of Texas Monthly.) Q. “My very close friend, who is a current Texas resident, constantly gives his home state of Tennessee credit for the “birth of Texas.” Tennessee played a part, of course, but I’d like to rightsize his claim. Sam Houston wasn’t even a native of the Volunteer State; he was Virginia-born. Our great state is the spawn of many nations (six flags), and that doesn’t even include the Native American tribes that called this land home. What is it that keeps this Tennessean bragging and carrying on?”