Essay On African American Education

Education is the key to success. Sadly the reality is, not everyone can have access to this key. Prior to the 1950s, it was uncommon for an African American to receive an education, considering that blacks were slaves, slaves could not have an education, and not being able to have an education will affect their lives in many other aspects.

During and after the Civil War was a time when it was uncommon for colored people to have an education. “...during the Civil War...it was illegal for slaves to receive an education in any form” (Fuller). Slave’s could get an education through their owner, if they allowed them to have one. They had to live and do what white people told them to do, history would be very different if this were vice versa. “After the Civil War...blacks could get an education...the government wouldn’t build schools or hire teachers” (Fuller). Blacks can
now get an education but, not the same was as whites. Technically they had to learn things for themselves if they didn’t have teachers, so they are a self taught race. Numerous things have happened to make education more equal for blacks and whites at this point, but a lot still has to be done.

Again blacks are now able to receive an education, but the most certainly didn’t mean blacks and whites would receive it the same way. “...our books wrapped in paper to prevent the police or white persons from seeing them…” (The Quest for Education). This quote shows that there was still a lot of prejudice against blacks, if they had to hide their books to go to school. This is like the modern day Malala Yousafzai story, who received a secret education, because girls could not have an education where she is from. “Educational programs...specifically designed to limit their employment opportunities” (Smith). In addition to having limiting education programs, their schools were in bad conditions, and their books were usually old/torn up. One could think that blacks at this time were like the younger sibling who receive hand-me-downs, getting used books, and have old torn down schools. To reiterate, blacks can now have an education now, though not a great one.

Having a good education could mean having a good life, so African Americans did not really have this advantage.
“The average black household income in 1955 was $2,890 just 55% of that a white household $5,228” (Fuller). It was not only income that was lower for blacks, they had a higher illiteracy rate, and well they had to deal with segregation. This shows that blacks did not have it easy at all. “The median household income for black families in 2001 was $33,600, while it was $54,000 for whites” (Fuller). It has been 50 years and whites still make far more than blacks. If we keep going at this rate it will take hundreds of years until blacks and whites are truly equal. All in all a lot has changed to make blacks/whites equal, but there is still room for change.

In short, education for blacks has changed a lot since the Civil War. African Americans did not have all the advantages white people did back in the 1950s. That really isn’t the case now, but there still is that divide if a few ways. So if we still want to make more of a change, then we should keep in mind that knowledge is
power.