The Black Elite In The 19th Century

Register to read the introduction… Members in this elite could be achieved through talent, wealth, occupation, family connections, complexion, and education. The elite was what led in the development of black institutions and culture, in the antislavery movement, and in the struggle for racial justice. It was also the bridge between the black community and sympathetic white people. Even though few African Americans achieved financial security during the antebellum period, black people could become rich. Segregated neighborhoods gave rise to a black professional class of physicians, lawyers, ministers and undertakers who only served African Americans. Blacks merchants could gain wealth selling to black communities. Other African Americans included skilled tradesmen, such as carpenters, barbers, waiters, and coachmen, who generally would find work among white …show more content…
At the time, black institutions consisted of schools, benevolent and fraternal societies, literary groups, newspapers, journals, and much more. Aside from all of that, the most important black community institution remained the church. During this period, black churches were community centers. They housed school and meeting places for other organizations. A lot of times, anti-slavery societies met in churches. At the time, education was racially segregated in the north between 1820-1860. This was a rough time for parents because of the segregation issue. Whites just didn’t want African American students in their classrooms because they claimed that black children lacked mental capacity and lowered the quality of education. The whites were also afraid that opening schools to black children would encourage more black people to live in the school district. How to educate African American children who weren’t allowed to attend school with white children became a persistent issue in the