What is the problem?  Educating African Americans presented many difficult problems.  It was illegal in Southern states.  It was still debatable on the need to provide education for Africans in Northern states.  Efforts to educate African Americans led to violence.

Causes of this problem  Racism  People saw no reason why children should learn more than the “three Rs.”  Spelling  Handwriting  Sprinkling of the rod  There weren’t many schools for African Americans  15,000 African students in NYC; 2 schools.  20,000 African students in Philadelphia; 3 schools.

Solutions  Many people were trying to mix in white schools with colored students  Prudence Crandall; female teacher in Connecticut  Allowed an African American girl in her school in  School began to fill with African girls  State made it illegal to educate “a person of color” from out of state.

 Freedom's Journal was an African American Newspaper which helped uplift the African American community by improving African American education.  John Russwurm, editor of the magazine, was especially committed to education.  He became involved in various movements designed to encourage African American children to attend school.

 In 1828, he became the secretary for the African Dorcas Association.  This was an organization designed to provide necessities to young children who hoped to attend school.  In 1829, Russwurm wrote in the pages of Freedom's Journal that more effort should be directed toward the education of youth because the future was in their hands.

Does this problem still exist today? Explain.  This problem doesn’t exist today.  Schools are more open to colored students and they are all taught the same thing.  The problem today is the access to education  The schools of the inner city regions are not as good as some in other areas.  Some are increasingly dangerous.

Questions  What did Prudence Crandall do to try to help African American education?  Where was educating African Americans banned?  How did Russwurm encourage African Americans to get educated?

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