Henry Louis Gates, JR takes us on a trip back in time as we read Life Upon These Shores. In units six through ten we learn about war and its meaning, reconstruction of the nation, laws and everything in between. We meet individuals who greatly impact black life and culture for decades. We also learn about the impacts of education. No matter the time period education is essential to life. I have chosen to analyze the importance and the impact of education during this time period. We are introduced to Charlotte Forten, a teacher in this time period, 1862. She was the first northern African-American schoolteacher to teach former slaves. She joined a band of teachers and Gideonites, together they traveled to the Sea Islands to teach and prepare former slaves as they transitioned to freedom. She helped in establishing schools, inculcating northern values, and implementing a free labor economy. She felt as if her purpose in life was to teach and uplift those who were oppressed and suffering. …show more content…
The freedmen’s Bureau, established March 1865, was the government’s attempt to provide the needs of freed slaves. However freed slaves needed more than food and clothing to escape oppression. They needed Education. With the help of the Freedmen’s Aid Societies and Northern missionary groups schools for former slaves began to establish. Because of this, four great institutions in African American higher education were founded. Those four were: Fisk University, Morehouse College, Hampton University and Howard University. These four were among the first established in the South. All four of these great universities greatly impacted black education and still impact