Impact of Rosenwald schools on education and how they changed the lives of Black Americans

Built between 1912 and 1973, Rosenwald schools provided an opportunitiy for hundreds of thousands of poor African Americans to be educated in the segregated South. Their construction has been called one of the most effective philanthropic endeavors of the 20th century. But the story of the school and their benefactor remain largely unknown today.
Each weekday morning, "CBS This Morning" co-hosts Gayle King, Anthony Mason and Tony Dokoupil deliver two hours of original reporting, breaking news and top-level newsmaker interviews in an engaging and informative format that challenges the norm in network morning news programs.
Subscribe to “CBS This Morning” on KZbin: / cbsthismorning
Watch CBSN live: cbsn.ws/1PlLpZ7c​
Download the CBS News app: cbsn.ws/1Xb1WC8​
Follow "CBS This Morning" on Instagram: bit.ly/1Q7NGnY
Like "CBS This Morning" on Facebook: on. 1LhtdvI
Follow "CBS This Morning" on Twitter: bit.ly/1Xj5W3p
Subscribe to our newsletter: cbsn.ws/1RqHw7T​
Try Paramount+ free: bit.ly/2OiW1kZ
For video licensing inquiries, contact: [e-mail]

[@dawnd.5290]

Thank you CBS Sunday Morning for continuing to share news that educates, uplifts and enlightens 👏.These men became friends based on the strength of their character and common interest. Individuals that dare to hope and proceed to move forward toward positive change are the true heroes in our country. We need more stories like this.

[@sandraprice3]

My mother attended a Rosenwald school.

[@dionnenicolesmith3520]

Wonderful to see this story, but you should also view the documentary, ROSENWALD, from 2015 and read the book, Julius Rosenwald: The Man Who Built Sears, Roebuck and Advanced the Cause of Black Education in the American South, written by his grandson, Dr. Peter Ascoli. I am blessed to have Peter as my former graduate school professor, reference, and mentor.

[@skontheroad]

This is what makes me so sad. The Blacks and the Jews walked hand in hand in support of each other in the 1960's and on. Because Rosenwald was so humble and did not want his name attached to his philanthropy, so many do not know what happened. And about the partnership they built. We should continue to build it UP! NOT tear it DOWN!

[@skylarsky3173]

It's really a sad! My mother grew up in segregated Georgia and she has told me many stories of Blacks and Jews working together.

[@skontheroad]

@@skylarsky3173 Exactly! We had to stick together because we were both the outcasts (there was not as much diversity amongst minorities back then). And we did great work together. The saddest part it the the current generation is not even aware that it happened. And the left is now saying Israel is an "apartheid state" just like South Africa was.... (it isn't at all!), but they choose those words carefully to create an even larger divide and bring more people to the pro-Palestinian side, even though many know nothing about the history of Israel (for example, the way Israel rescued all of the Ethiopian Jews, brought them to Israel, savved their lives, and made them citizens!). Disgraceful!

[@MasonBroadcastingCompany]

Beautiful story CBS. There was a Rosenwald School in my neighborhood growing up in Harlan, Kentucky. My older brothers and sisters attended the school.

[@tammietravis2395]

Education is the cornerstone of democracy. Indeed. ❤️

[@kareneDallas]

The buildings are beautiful in their simplicity and the story of this education partnership between Booker T Washington & Rosenwald is inspiring. Wonderful story.

[@eyeje19]

Keep sharing more on all of these schools like Bordentown in NJ and more

[@TommyStrategic]

Paraphrase (i.e., the quiet part): Tax-paying black Americans were prohibited from having any schools built with public funds, until a wealthy public philanthropist agreed to match funds with local communities. Every Rosenwald school represents black families going over and above their taxpaying obligations to donate land, labor, and additional private funds to build the schools that their local school districts wouldn’t. The association with retail magnate Rosenwald and prominent, politically moderate educator Washington ensured these schools would receive the protection of local governments and would not be burned down. All this, ironically, in the shadow of Reconstruction, which saw the birth of the public school system we know today, and which gave poor whites in many areas, as well as the formerly enslaved, their first access to free education supported by government instead of charities.

[@sandraatkins2539]

Gggg

[@TheNaturalwoman221]

This was a story told beautifully. I had no idea about this. I guess I heard some stuff throughout my life, but the endeavor is beautiful and the gratefulness of the students to this day, the alliance, its wonderful. How did more people and things not become built on that?

[@robertasmith8688]

Just WOW that was awesome love it education open doors for us

[@charnaeyoung9815]

I love how black history month has been extended. Because February was trash.

[@jalex5016]

black history is american history so we ought to get it every month

[@CordeliaAlexander-p4h]

This is an excellent interview of what Rosenwald schools were like. I, too, attend the Rosenwald schools and this is exactly what I remember.

[@diva70smusic]

I am a product of the Rosenwald school. East Martinsville Elementary School located in Martinsville, VA, had no library, cafeteria, gymnasium, or auditorium. There was a small playground with just a swing set, a merry go round, and a scaled down jungle gym. The school had 2 major buildings teaching students from kindergarten to the 8th grade. Depending on when you attended, the grades may have been 1st grade to the ninth or other reiterations. However, I had the best teachers ever. They were the best of the best graduates of the black colleges and universities from which they graduated. These teachers were motivators, role models, mothers, fathers, and leaders in our eyes as students. Learning and discipline was tough and thorough. You were expected to pay attention, show up everyday, be respectful and patriotic and learn. Not surprisingly, a lot of my peers, including myself pursued education in or after college. Some of the best educated students in my hometown came from that environment. Many of us did well in high school and went to college. In my generation, a very high percentage of families had college graduates in their households. Because of the association between Julius Rosenwald and Sears and Roebuck, legend has it that the company had a black founder or corporate leader. Of course, this is not true. But among much older blacks, they will argue you down because of the schools. I am surprised the reporter did not discover this tidbit. In any case, I am grateful for Mr. Rosenwald's vision and humanity.

[@tashikoweinstein435]

The Alliance between Jews those of African Descentant goes back centuries and it is beautiful, glorious and powerful! As a Jew, I am proud of the legacy that our Alliance built, and I plan to continue that Alliance!

[@codebrker24]

It is what many are trying to tear apart. Both sides need to revisit history to understand and appreciate the special relationship that existed. Once that is understood, only then can we as a group can move forward in this country.

[@FollowmedowntheNumberWhole]

👏

[@lisawilson8257]

God bless them and their vision!

[@tracycicero-reynolds5311]

Great story! Black History was taught in schools years ago. It should be taught again as part of the curriculum so that “we”, as black, people, know the history & the struggle of our ancestors. We need to know.

[@jeffreyramsdell4781]

So black history shouldn’t be taught in schools! HISTORY SHOULD BE TAUGHT in schools! That means every single piece of history! Yes that includes black history. Black history shouldn’t be taught by itself because you are narrowing in on a single part of history instead of giving students a point of view of just one part of history let’s give them a broad view of history! More you know about the past the more you know about the future!!!

[@EddieBuchanan-zh4ip]

Well done, Well spoken ❤

[@hr6334]

Love this 🥰

[@debiseeu1620]

You didn’t have to be poor to go to these schools.

[@bethcares17anonymous38]

Love makes America great!

[@sabrinawashington7933]

I just read a book The Education of the Blacks from 1860 to 1935. This video was beautiful but forgot to mention it was Not full education. They were only taught basic education to fill the labor force and teachers or preachers. Get the full picture of this history. This pandemic gave me an opportunity to learn so much history about my people. I could go on. Also, read about Booker T. Washington's vision of education vs W. E. B. Dubois.

[@YoungZoLLC]

Thats not true, and we needed life skills(nation building) and basic education do to being a mostly unskilled chattel people in small rural communities.

[@bethmcgill5944]

I attended Rockwell, a Rosenwald school in Derita outside of Charlotte Mecklenburg NC. Happy to have has the segregated separate but "equal" experience. There many of these schools in the area. Sadly, Rockwell is no longer standing.

[@margaretrobinson7351]

I and my family from scottsville ky own on of the schools Julius rosenwald and Booker T Washington help fund we are working to have it restored

[@davanmani556]

The rural Presbyterian school system as well.

[@earlofmar7987]

The Emerson Schools. that were run by the Presbyterian Church, out-date the Rosenwald schools. Both good stories.

[@anthonyhardin65]

The community is still somewhat segregated right there around Nobel Hill. I have lived close to it all my life. Never have been there. It's haunted to me.

[@robertjones8771]

🙏🏾✊🏽💪🏾

[@da6640]

1912 - 1937 not 1973

[@skontheroad]

CBS--THE DESCRIPTION...built between 1912 and 1937? Or 1973??? Please correct the description box!! It makes a difference.

[@joannawilmott-quarles460]

❤Teach it at home. We learned at home. There is nothing like educating you. We have that freedom. By ant means necessary. We are free agents. We are no longer limited to what we can teach our families. The hell with arguing about what anyone needs to teach us ... we are FREE TO BE & DO.

[@FynnOliverEmonSill]

1937… 1973…. Umm, typo calling.

[@GEBRAHERU]

The First Educators Were Black

[@debiseeu1620]

This report has too much left out information. This is the problem with American history.

[@eyeje19]

Educate not Indoctrinate

[@GEBRAHERU]

Why are these white oeople apeaking about the Impact what happened ro The Students

[@tracyreid5130]

The mammoth belgian logistically suspect because map peroperativly belong anenst a straight blanket. didactic, icy handsaw

[@esthergoodman1399]

The previous hobbies cytomorphologically mourn because beauty summarily miss around a threatening pocket. imaginary, nine america

[@sinbad8374]

It sad because of the single father rate praise I hope you all come to Jesus

[@laneatkinson6441]

What makes you think anyone wants your pity? Typical condescending religious nut

[@sinbad8374]

@@laneatkinson6441 look who’s acting self righteous

[@sinbad8374]

@@laneatkinson6441 I pity the fools