Schools of Hope: How Julius Rosenwald helped change African American education by Norman H. Finkelstein. 80 p. Calkins Creek/ Boyds Mills Press, April, 2014. 9781590788417. (Finished copy courtesy of publisher for review.)
Julius Rosenwald was a wealthy man whose motto was, "give while you live," gave generously to a variety of both Jewish and Christian charities. When he met Booker T. Washington and learned of the deplorable conditions of schools for African Americans in the south, he was moved to fund the building of new ones. There was a prerequisite however. He would provide a third of the cost and the community needed to provide the rest. Over twenty years, Rosenwald funded 5300 schools. That means that 5300 communities throughout the south scrimped, saved, fundraised and built their own schools. These were often small two or three room multipurpose structures but they were better than the crumbling buildings that they replaced. Rosenwald's gift was extraordinary, but even more so was the dedication of the African American community in making a new school happen.
This account is highly readable and engaging. The design is attractive, with plenty of white space and chock full of well-captioned and interesting photographs, architectural drawings and maps. Each chapter is documented with source notes and a bibliography and list of web sites to visit are provided at the end. No African American history collection is complete without this purchase. Highly recommended.
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