One hundred years ago, Black history was largely absent from classrooms and textbooks. In 1926, historian Carter G. Woodson launched Negro History Week to address that gap, grounded in the belief that what students learn in school shapes how they understand themselves and their place in the world. What began as a focused effort to teach overlooked history was never meant to be symbolic. It was intended to ensure Black history was studied and preserved as part of the American story.
Education and Opportunity in the South
In the South, education has long been central to Black progress. Following the Civil War, access to schooling became one of the most important pathways for newly freed Black Americans seeking stability and participation in civic life. At the same time, education was shaped by segregation and zip codes, limiting access and opportunity for generations of students.
This tension defined much of Southern education. Schools became places of possibility while also reflecting broader inequities. Understanding this history helps explain why education remains such a powerful lever for opportunity in the region today.
SEF’s Place in This History
The Southern Education Foundation (SEF) was established during this same post–Civil War period, with a mission to expand educational opportunity in states that had the furthest to climb. Over nearly 160 years, SEF’s work has evolved alongside the region, supporting educators, strengthening institutions, and producing research that examines how race and income shape public education. SEF’s history reflects a long arc of engagement with education in the South, from early philanthropic efforts to modern research and policy leadership, as reflected in our legacy timeline.
SEF’s history reflects a sustained commitment to education as a public good. From early efforts to support educational access to today’s focus on advancing fair education policies and practices, the organization’s work has remained anchored in the belief that education plays a defining role in opportunity.
Looking Ahead
One hundred years after Black history commemoration began, its purpose remains clear. History does not remain present in education on its own. It requires sustained attention and intentional effort to ensure it is taught fully and meaningfully.
Throughout its history, the Southern Education Foundation has focused on strengthening educators, building knowledge, and addressing gaps where education systems have fallen short. That same responsibility continues today. As SEF’s Miles To Go report makes clear, progress matters, but there is still important work ahead. Preserving Black history in education and expanding opportunity for future generations means recognizing how far we have come, while also acknowledging that we still have miles to go.
Black History is our history. Celebrate the past and help fund the future.
