Greenville Journal
Julius Rosenwald heeded the call for education in rural black communities *in the south* 80 years ago. He took on the massive challenge of transforming educational systems and bringing real educational opportunities for the first time to thousands of the young black community.
Once a peddler and shopkeeper, Rosenwald became chairman and one-third owner of Sears before taking the company public in 1906. He then went on to change education in the south by helping build 5,357 schools, including more than 500 in South Carolina and 105 in five Upstate counties. By the mid-20th century, more than one-third of the black youth in the South had received education and occupational training at Rosenwald schools.
Many of the schools were sold — or, as in the case with Chapman Grove, torn down. Only 10 – 12 percent of the schools are still standing and are registered as part of the National Register of Historic Places.
Dr. Peter Ascoli, Julius Rosenwald’s grandson (and historian) will be speaking at Furman’s Younts Center tonight from 7 – 9 p.m. Register online.
