Advocacy From the Ground Up

Abstract

The history of education in the United States abounds with double themes and purposes for education: schooling for democratic citizenship and schooling for second-class citizenship. Although African Americans encountered significant legal barriers and threats of death while trying to obtain an education, their yearning for knowledge and opportunities served as a catalyst for education advocacy in their communities. In spite of various obstacles, researchers posit that African Americans erupted from slavery with a philosophy of education and perseverance that served as a precursor to the establishment of advocacy in education that would serve their needs and provide hope for a better education system. As a result, African Americans erupted from slavery with a philosophy of education and perseverance that served as a precursor to the establishment of universal schooling that would serve their needs and provide hope for a better life.