See the premiere, 6 p.m. October 1
at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture.
Free Event, Registration Required:
‘Monuments with Blackboards’ is a revealing look into a critical chapter in Virginia history that is rarely taught and often overlooked.
Schools for African American children living in rural Virginia in the early 20 century were generally in substandard buildings, ill-equipped, and often taught by teachers who were not well trained. Going to school often involved a one-way walk of several miles, if a school was available.
But that situation changed dramatically with the advent of a program launched in Alabama by Virginia native Booker T. Washington, the famous educator. His plan partnered communities that desperately wanted schools with seed money provided by Chicago philanthropist Julius Rosenwald, a son of German Jewish immigrants.
These funds were leveraged to persuade local school boards, controlled by Whites, to join forces to build new schoolhouses. The plan also called for ongoing support from local school boards, including paying teachers and extending the school term.
In less than two decades, nearly 400 new schools for African American students were build throughout the Commonwealth. The program was repeated in 14 other states, from Maryland to Texas. The result was nearly 5,000 new schools that changed the fortunes of hundreds of thousands of young people.
‘Monuments with Blackboards’ pulls together the many threads of a fascinating story of commitment, perseverance, and achievement that still resonates through Rosenwald alumni today.
Longleaf Productions gratefully acknowledges the generous support of these underwriters, which made this film possible.
