Religious Capital of the Oppressed: The Black Church and Black Schooling in Antebellum Philadelphia 1783- 1861

Early Black Education Initiatives

The earliest voice on Black education, before 1861, was Carter G. Woodson. His work began with Black education prior to 1861 (Woodson, 1915). His rich history of Black education illuminated the intelligence of Black communities and their desire to learn (Woodson, 1915); his history also challenged the notion that Black people were mentally inferior, giving Black Americans a new lens to analyze the history of Whites attempting to educate Black Americans. Many White educators, including abolitionists, assumed that Black students were so damaged by slavery that they were de-humanized (Foster, 1975). However, this work demonstrated the perseverance and the resilience of the Black community in the midst of slavery because the trauma did not destroy the former slaves. Woodson (1915) took a large-scale approach to the Black education dilemma and considered the role of religion in educating the students, but due to his broad focus, the approach does not offer an in-depth analysis of Black education in cities like Philadelphia, PA. Woodson did not address the White resistance regarding Black education in Philadelphia (James, 1958). Thus, he did not highlight the influence of the Black church in creating educational opportunities for Black Americans.