Empowerment Through Education: The Freedom Schools of the 1960s

This chapter explores the origins and goals of the Freedom Schools established by the SNCC during the civil rights movement, focusing on their mission to educate and empower African American students. It details the challenges faced by volunteer educators, particularly in the hostile environment of Mississippi, and highlights the courage of both the educators and local families who supported them. The chapter also examines the innovative citizenship curriculum that aimed to instill a sense of agency and challenge prevailing misconceptions about freedom and self-worth.