Posts tagged black history

Women in Black History

Today Helen and I had a discussion about our customer base, and our discovery that a large percentage of our customers are female.  We think it’s pretty great that so many women are using educational rap music in the classroom, and it inspired me to do some research on women in black history.  I checked out the African American History Month website and found that this month’s theme is to honor “Black Women in American Culture and History.”  From the website:

About This Year’s Theme

This year’s theme “BlackWomen in American Culture and History” honors African American women and the myriad of roles they played in the shaping of our nation. The theme, chosen by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History urges all Americans to study and reflect on the value of their contribution to the nation.

               

One of the first profiles that I came upon was of Harriet Tubman, who helped guide nearly 300 people to freedom using The Underground Railroad.  She was also a soldier, spy and nurse in the Civil War. I remember reading about her with a great deal of fascination when I was a child, and of being inspired by how brave she was. As I read about her today, I am reminded of her courage and strength and in awe of all she accomplished in her lifetime.  

To read more about Harriet Tubman, please visit her profile on the Black History Month website by clicking here.   Be sure to read about all of the other amazing and inspiring figures in black history as well.

We’ll be featuring more profiles and pieces of history throughout the month, so please check back often!  Don’t forget:  we’re also offering a free download of our Black History Month album to help teachers and students celebrate Black History Month.  Click here to download the album for free.

Today in Black History - Peabody Fund

From Wikipedia:

Founded of necessity due to damage caused largely by the American Civil War, the Peabody Education Fund was established by George Peabody in 1867 for the purpose of promoting “intellectual, moral, and industrial education in the most destitute portion of the Southern States.” The gift of foundation consisted of securities to the value of $2,100,000, of which $1,100,000 were in Mississippi State bonds, afterward repudiated. In 1869 an additional $1,000,000 was given by Mr. Peabody, with $384,000 of Florida funds, also repudiated later. The main purpose of the fund was to aid elementary education by strengthening existing schools. Because it was restricted from founding new schools, it did not benefit freedmen in the South, as there were no established schools for blacks.

“The fund introduced a new type of benefaction in that it was left without restriction in the hands of the trustees to administer. Power to close the trust after thirty years was provided on condition that two-thirds of the fund be distributed to educational institutions in the Southern states.”^[1]

The rules of the Peabody Education Fund were strict, allowing for the distribution of about $80,000 per year over a period of thirty years. By the time of the termination of the fund in 1898, about $2,500,000 had been distributed. In 1875 the trustees of the Peabody Education Fund founded the Peabody Normal School of the South which promptly became the Peabody Normal College (1875-1911). It was maintained in connection with the University of Nashville and supported by annual donations from the Peabody Education Fund. In 1910 the Peabody College for Teachers was organized. Placed adjacent to Vanderbilt University, the college opened its doors on June 14, 1914 for summer school. In September 1915, four new buildings had been completed at a cost of $750,000. About 1915, the Peabody Education Fund ceased to exist.

The Southern Education Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation, was created in 1937 from the Peabody Education Fund and three intended to support education for blacks: the John F Slater Fund, the Negro Rural School Fund, and the Virginia Randolph Fund.^[2]