Lessons Learned: From the American South to Spain
The summer is a time for travel and exploration. And in this edition, we explore the rich legacy of Black boarding schools and travel with one of our writers to Barcelona, Spain. First, senior writer Ronald Roach explores the tradition, history and future of Black boarding schools. There was a time, pre-desegregation, when these schools were one of the few options available to Black students, particularly in the South. Local Blacks, sometimes in conjunction with religious organizations, took it upon themselves to build independent elementary and secondary schools, which included the ranks of boarding schools. But due to the desegregation of public schools, only a handful of historically Black boarding schools survive today. However, even though the number of schools has dwindled, Black boarding school alumni have fond and vivid memories of their alma maters, attributing much of their educational preparation and personal growth to these schools.
