IMPACT OF PROGRESSIVE ERA ON AFRICAN AMERICANS 2
Abstract
The central theme of the Progressive era when it comes to the education of African Americans is
seen as the population being overlooked, ill served and neglected (Franklin, 1999;
Johanningmeier, 2006; Kridle, 2020). Research discusses the progressive era, its purpose, and
goals but, ultimately gave light to how African Americans had to navigate social inequality and
racism to fulfill their goals for their students. The progressive era also centered around the
development of children, referred to generally as child-centered learning. The progressive era
gave way to the birth of great African American leaders that pushed, African Americans and
their students during a time, where they could have easily been forgotten.
Keywords: Progressive Era, child-centered learning, inequality
IMPACT OF PROGRESSIVE ERA ON AFRICAN AMERICANS 3
The Impact of the Progressive on African American Education
The progressive era navigated the times as launching what we now call the modern public
school system. While its focus was on the education of all, there were some inequities seen in
funding, race and overall curriculum (Franklin, 1999; Johanningmeier, 2006). The progressive
era for African Americans was one that has been discussed by researchers and writers as being
one where they were overlooked. Due to the time period, this is no shock. However, the
progressive era gave way to the birth and push of great African American leaders that pushed
African Americans and their students during a time, where they could have been easily been
forgotten.
Kridel (2020) gives us, what many writers of this time have stated, that during the
progressive era, black education and educators were overlooked and somewhat forgotten (Kridel,
2020). Kridel also gives some light into the Secondary School study that was for black educators
and its children and was apart of the progressive era. Often, we have seen and heard the
progressive era mainly focused on rich white children but this study showed us differently
( Kridel, 2020). African American teachers had to combat social inequality, inadequate funding
and blatant racism all while pushing to teach their students (Kridel, 2020). Progressive education
can be defined by what educators did to make sure their students grew effectively and matured
beautifully, additionally where individuals had the courageous willingness to examine critically
educational procedures ( Kridle, 2020). Blacks in the progressive era had a hard time defining
roles when the era generally benefited white men ( Franklin, 1999). As the author explains, in the
article, blacks were only a marginal portion of the progressive era and the struggle for social
change(Franklin, 1999). This effected the education of African American students. The
IMPACT OF PROGRESSIVE ERA ON AFRICAN AMERICANS 4
Progressive Era had both positive and negative influences on African American education, but
ultimately it continued to show the racial inequalities and segregation of the times.
Summary and Context
Johanningmeier (2006) gives us details concerning the universal education in the public
education system. He analyzes and gives us a lot of research of the system that has been critized
and analyzed to confirm it is a system that teaches all children and meets their needs.
Johnanningmeir (2006) states from the Progressive era , “ education as a field of study now
found in universities began to emerge in the first years in this era.” During the progressive era,
the public school system was said to be a system that was supposed to ameliorate social ills
( Johanningmeier, 2006). It is explained, in this article, that the modern public school system was
birthed during this era. The public school was to satisfy new social obligations in additional to
serve new and different populations (Johanningmeier, 2006). While Johanngmeier gives us
information concerning all population and the general findings of education in the Progressive
era, he fails to address the lack of findings with the African American population. In fact, it is
quite opposite of what happened in African American education during the Progressive era. The
Progressive era is known for being centered around the education of children and their
development but, for African Americans it looked different and far less centered that their white
peers.
While African American children received less than equal education than white children,
the emergence of great African American leaders was also a result of the Progressive era.
Leaders such as Mary Mcleod Bethune, WEB Dubois and Booker T Washington, emerged
IMPACT OF PROGRESSIVE ERA ON AFRICAN AMERICANS 5
during this time, pushing for equality in education and helping create institutions focused on the
whole development of African American children (Smith, 2020).
Critical Analysis
It is clear from any amount of research that the Progressive era, placed an importance on
child centered learning and authentic experiences to enhance that learning ( Smith, 2020). For the
African American child, their experiences of inequality and neglect played a huge role, in their
development and overall education experience (Franklin, 1999; Kridel, 2020). Blacks in the
progressive era had a hard time defining roles when the era generally benefited white men
( Franklin, 1999). As the author explains, in the article, blacks were only a marginal portion of
the progressive era and the struggle for social change (Franklin, 1999). So, while a majority of
research points to the overlooked population of African Americans, there is a good amount of
research that points to the African American leaders that emerged or who were extremely active
during the Progressive Era. This leads me to deduce that although there were inequalities in the
education of African Americans, there was also positive results of the movement, with the
emergence of great leaders.
If the African American men were marginalized, it can easily be speculated that African
American women had little to no place in the movement. Women however did, provide vital
energy and leadership that fueled reform during the progressive era ( Franklin,1999; Nash,
2004). Black progressives wanted to achieve a greater sense of purpose and community during
this time (Franklin, 1999) WEB Dubois and Mary Mcleod Bethune are just two individuals that
pushed for the equality of education for African Americans, they are also two that are widely
spoken about during this era of time (Smith, 2020; Johnson-Miller (2006).
IMPACT OF PROGRESSIVE ERA ON AFRICAN AMERICANS 6
The progressive era and its relation to African American education relates to Zacchaeus
in the tree (Luke 19). Zaccheaus was small but wanted to see Jesus, so he climbed the tree. When
he was up there, Jesus saw him amongst the large crowd and told him to come down (King
James Bible, 1769/n.d., Luke 19:1-10). In relating this to African Americans during the
Progressive era, we can infer and relate that although the people felt overlooked or marginalized,
God still saw them and allowed positives impact to happen throughout the time period which
included great leaders and the birth of some amazing institutions we see today.
Conclusion
The Progressive era had both some negative and positive impacts on African American
education. Some research calls it mixed influences on the time period. African American
teachers had to combat social inequality, inadequate funding and blatant racism all while pushing
to teach their students (Kridel, 2020). The push of African American educators during a time
they were not equally recognized or accepted is to be considered tremendous. As modern
educators, we can learn that we can teach our children no matter what and despite any
challenges. We can learn, from this time period, that African American leaders recognized the
obstacles, but pushed anyways and we should do that too always. It seems the leaders of the
time, kept at the forefront their reason to push and educate their children. We should always keep
in front of us our why despite the challenges that surround us.
In this modern time, I believe more studies on the comparison of the positive and
negative influences on African American education should be done to really expand the
information we see from the time period. Lack of research, gives us limited views and leaves
room for more inference that actual facts based on what we have.
IMPACT OF PROGRESSIVE ERA ON AFRICAN AMERICANS 7
References
Baughn, J.V.O. (2012). A modern school plant. Buildings & Landscapes, 19(1), 43-72.
http://doi.org/10/5749/buildland.19.1.0043
Franklin, J. (1999). Blacks and the progressive movement: Emergence of a new synthesis. OAH
Magazine of History,13(3), 20-23.
Johanningmeier, E.V. (2006). Public education, educational research and the nations’s agenda
during the progressive era. American Educational History Journal, 33(1), 97-106.
Johnson-Miller, B. (2006). Mary Mcleod Bethune: Black educational ministry leader of the early
20th century. Christian Education, 3(2), 330-342.
King James Bible. (n.d.). King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/
(Original work published 1769).
Kridel, C. (2020). Black progressive educators of the 1940s: An overlooked chapter of
progressivism in Amercan education. Kappa Delta Pi Record, 56(3), 105-111.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00228958.2020.1770002
Smith, S.J. (2020). Windows into the history & philosophy of education. Kendall Hurt
Publishing Company.
Nash, M. (2004). “Patient Persistence”: The political and educational values of Anna Julia
Cooper and Mary Church Terrell. Educational Studies, 35(2), 122-136.
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