During this time many of the noted African-American women began to step up and start schools in their homes, cabins and churches. They also were able to attend certain academies. Miss Deveaux from Savannah was one of many of the women who ran a school in her home. Some slaves even taught sewing classes for the younger slave children.
Along with direct teaching from the black women, they also "learned from their slave masters." They would watch their masters and observe what they did and try to imitate them. They also would wait outside the school of the master's childen and eavesdrop while they waited on the children to be dismissed from school.
Some slaves were taught directly from their masters because the master needed them for work that sometimes required them to have a certain level of literacy. Some of the family members of the masters such as wives, children and sisters, would often teach the slaves in secret how to read and write.
Even though they had opportunities to learn they still had to do it in secret.
After the Civil War The Atlanta University was opened in the South and African-Americans had teh opportunity to obtain higher education. One of the first African-American women to be able to attend and take advantage of the opportunity was Adella Hunt. Following her many other African-Americans began to acquire simple skills such as reading and writing.
I actually enjoyed this section because it is so interesting to me because they had such a hunger to learn and be educated. Many of the African-Americans today want to be educated but the motivation to learn does not compare to the motivation of these African-Americans.
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