The Journal of Negro History, Volume 5, 1920, page 1 by Various Authors
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20--No. 3
The Slave in Canada WILLIAM RENWICK RIDDELL Book Reviews Notes
Vol V--October, 1920--No. 4
The Return of Negro Slaves ARNETT G. LINDSAY The Negro in Politics NORMAN P. ANDREWS Henry Bibb, a Colonizer FRED LANDON Myrtilla Miner G. SMITH WORMLEY Communications Documents Some Undistinguished Negroes Book Reviews Notes
THE JOURNAL
OF
NEGRO HISTORY
VOL. V., NO. 1 JANUARY, 1920.
THE NEGRO IN EDUCATION[1]
In the early history of America there were three types of settlements--the French, Spanish, and English. In the French Provinces the teachings of the "Code Noir" made it incumbent upon the masters to teach the slaves, at least to read, in order, of course, that they might read the Bible; and in the Spanish districts the Latin custom of miscegenation prevented the rise of objections to the teaching of slaves, in case there should be any who cared to instruct the Negroes. In the English Provinces, on the other hand, since teaching the slaves would probably result in their becoming Christians, the colonists naturally were strenuous in their efforts to prevent any enlightenment of the blacks, due to the existence of an unwritten law to the effect that no Christian might be held a slave. Many planters forbade the teaching of their slaves, until finally the Bishop of London settled the difficulty by issuing a formal declaration in which he stated that conversion did not work manumission.[2]
The rudimentary education of Negroes was one of the first claims on pioneer Christian teachers. Although the Negro Year Book for 1914-15 makes note of a public school for Indians and Negroes established in 1620, according to Brawley and Du Bois, the first schools to be established were private institutions.[3] In New York City in 1704 a school was opened for Negroes and Indians by Elias Neau and in 1750 Anthony Benezet established an evening school for the blacks in Philadelphia. The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel established in C