There is a long history of African American education in the United States spanning from the self-taught individual to the establishment of public school systems available to all. This evolution speaks to the formation and resilience of African American communities throughout the country. However, the history is complicated when it comes to the discussion of segregated schools.

 

The following three pages explore this history. After a discussion of African American education on the national stage, the site takes a closer look specifically at Virginia schools, then examines rural schooling more specifically.

 

Each page looks at providing a basic understanding of the development of an official school system and the roles of rural schools, whether they be through the Rosenwald Fund or not.