'Rosenwald': How a philanthropist aided black education in Jim Crow South

[struggle4progress]

Steven Rea, Inquirer Movie Columnist and Critic
Posted: Friday, August 21, 2015, 3:01 AM

A straight-ahead documentary tribute, Rosenwald - about Julius Rosenwald, the hugely generous philanthropist and president of Sears - screened last month at the annual meeting of the NAACP here in Philadelphia. Why would the life of a son of Jewish immigrants from Germany be of special interest to African Americans?

... Rosenwald - who never finished high school, who rose from peddling clothing by foot and cart to running the largest retailer in the country - teamed with black communities in the Jim Crow-era South of the early 20th century to build more than 5,000 schools. He helped fund YMCAs for black communities. He partnered with Booker T. Washington to expand the Tuskegee Institute and construct homes for African Americans ...

He saw the connection between the treatment of African Americans in the South and across America and the systemic anti-Semitism his family had faced back in Germany, and he wanted to do something about it ...

http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/movies/20150821__Rosenwald___How_a_philanthropist_aided_black_education_in_Jim_Crow_South.html

[kwassa]

1. Some of the Rosenwald schools have been preserved

and some need preservation

http://www.preservationnation.org/rosenwald/



?itok=iYYTp2MV

[etherealtruth]

2. i heard a story on NPR about him (probably prompted by the movie)

He seemed to be a truly good person! He did not want his name associated with his generosity (i.e. no schools, libraries, YMCAs ... were name for him)

[frazzled]

3. I heard that story too

I was taken aback at the list of people who attended those schools--practically every African-American writer or politician of note of the 20th century, from Maya Angelou to John Lewis.

I can't wait to see the film. I can't believe I knew nothing about Mr. Rosenwald's philanthropic efforts.

[etherealtruth]

4. I had not heard of him either :( n/t

[greatauntoftriplets]

5. Julius Rosenwald was an early leader of Sears.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Rosenwald

[etherealtruth]

6. Thanks, the NPR story was really good and did good job ...

.... detailing his life. I feel bad that prior to that don't recall having heard of him

[greatauntoftriplets]

7. He was a good guy.