James Lee Dickey: An Analysis of One African-American's Leadership in Jim Crow Texas

Freedmen's Schools

Previously, Southern states had prosecuted those found teaching slaves to read, write or compute arithmetic because they believed knowledge amongst slaves would incite insurrection. Many former slaves felt the worst crime committed against them was their lack of education. Within four years, the Freedmen’s Bureau increased the number of schools from 740 with 90,589 students to 2,677 schools with 149,581 students. In addition, it inspired the creation of several normal schools and black colleges, among them Howard and Fisk Universities. In 1865 about 90% of the black population was illiterate but by 1880 it had decreased to 70%. This was an improvement of 200% in 15 short years.  

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