Frederick Douglas once said: “True knowledge unfits a man to be a slave”—a maxim that the famous abolitionist demonstrated in his own life. But where might African Americans have access to the liberating influence of education when schools, especially those offering more than an elementary curriculum, prohibited their enrolling? In this presentation, Milton C. Sernett PhD tells the story of Beriah Green’s Oneida Institute in Upstate New York and his attempt to build a freedom school. During Green’s presidency (1833-1845), the radical abolitionist school enrolled more African Americans than any other institution of its time, including notables such as Alexander Crummell, Henry Highland Garnet, and Jermain Loguen. Crummell recalled spending three years of “perfect equality” at Green’s school.
About Black History Matters
Black History Matters 2022 is an educational series that seeks to highlight Black American history. NAHOF believes that by understanding history the present may be better understood. The mission of the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum is to honor antislavery abolitionists, their work to end slavery, and the legacy of that struggle, and strive to complete the second, and ongoing abolition – the moral conviction to end racism. These February programs will address key events in our national history and are topics in history that are lesser known or whose implications are not usually understood. The presenters are volunteer scholars, educators, authors, and researchers who support this project by donating their time and talents.
This program is funded, in part by, Humanities New York with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any view, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Viewers are encouraged to complete a brief survey for a report to the funder and to guide NAHOF.