Exterior view of Blockson School prior to new construction
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Photograph
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Exterior view of Blockson School prior to new construction
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Depictions of segregated schools for African American children are important to understanding how systemic racism created unequal educational opportunities.
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A group of African American schoolchildren stand in front of their one-room schoolhouse, officially named "Blockson Colored School." The schoolhouse is constructed of wood and is in good condition. Behind the schoolhouse stands an outhouse.
Pierre S. du Pont incorporated the Delaware School Auxiliary Association in 1919 to finance the construction of new school buildings throughout Delaware. Between 1918 and 1940 he donated $5,000,000 to build some 120 schools. Much of this money was targeted for the Black school system, which was characterized by one room frame school houses containing at least six grades. In total, du Pont financed the rebuilding of 87 Black schools.
Although not reflected in the entry´s title, the institution was named "Blockson Colored School." Despite common use in the past, "colored" is considered a problematic term because it is dehumanizing. Nowadays we use Black with capital to refer to people of the African diaspora.
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1920-1929
1920s
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Sussex County, Delaware
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School
Children
Segregation
Sussex County
African Americans - Education
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Unknown
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Physical dimensions: about 8 x 10in.
Digital dimensions: 600 x 453px
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gelatin silver print
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Hagley Museum and Library
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The copyright and related rights status of this item has not been evaluated. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available (noted above in Publisher and Identifier) for more information.
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