Black Associationalism in the Counter–Public Sphere: Civic Associations in the History of African American Education

• In Event: Race, Place, and Genealogies of Empowerment

Abstract

Recent scholarship has declared the importance of informal educational settings and associationalism in the history of African American education. However, there exists no study of the role of Black civic associations’ role in the history of African American schooling. This paper is foray into investigating Black associations and their leaders to work toward a fuller history of African American education. It examines a selection of groups, such as the National Urban League, Black Elks, and National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers, to highlight the educational philosophies, goals, and accomplishments of Black civic organization leaders in the first half of the twentieth century.

Author

• Christine Woyshner, Temple University
  Presenting Author