In Response to Fear of Education

I gave up trying to post to the actual blog entry.


What I find most interesting about your idea is the whites’ fear of black education and never allowing them even the opportunity to learn. As the separate but equal laws arose we saw the separation of schools and other institutions, and I am sure white southerners felt confident that African Americans had been refused an education and liberty for so long, they would not even know where to start or how to educate or spark a voice within their culture. Black southerners did the complete opposite in the most essential structures of any community: the church, school, government. Whites gave them the chance to be as free as they would let them, but as southerner blacks started creating their institutions they gained power they no one thought was possible. They were able to determine what to teach in schools and how to bridge the gap that was constantly thrown in their children’s faces. They were able to worship, preach, sing, and congregate in any way they felt best conveyed their message. They were creating black institutions that made their race strong and demonstrate they were defining their culture and race. While their impact was not as noticed or acknowledged until years later, they were laying a foundation for the generations to come. Showing them that it is okay to educate yourself and your family, you as a member of this community owe it to yourself to rise to your potential. I do understand that in this time, their potential would not be something extreme, but it is the principles and ideals that their striving to educate their entire community even if such degrading circumstances is a true lesson.