The Impact Of The Post-Civil War On African American Education System

Before emancipation education for both enslaved and free African Americans had been prohibited by state law. Free public education for all regardless of race was the first legislation regarding education post-Civil War, this legislation changed the Mississippi Constitution in 1868. Free education was not actually free, education inequalities, underfunding of black schools, residual feelings of slaves are not smart enough to be educated, and most importantly the lack of commitment to fund black schools. “State Superintendent J. R. Preston in 1886, created a revised education code that slowly raised standards in the classroom. Teachers were paid more in salaries and were required to take teacher licensing exams.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Mississippi) These changes created a far better school experience for the students and teachers alike.
Vetting of these local superintendents, especially for predominately African American counties did not exist. Honesty, among these appointed men (not women) was not a quality that they had to possess. How to pay for schools? Revenues raised by the lease agreements of 16th Section lands became the funding source for the county schools. In addition to the 16th Section tax an additional tax of $2 was levied for public education. However, with white control of predominantly black counties, much of the money earmarked for the African American schools was given to the white schools. African American communities, paid the $2 tax, however, the black community had to raise additional funding to support their local