By: Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., Visit Natchez
A marker honoring Julius Rosenwald and Booker T. Washington for their support of Black schools in Adams County and the American South was recently unveiled in a special ceremony. The marker is posted in front of the administrative office of the Natchez-Adams County School District on Homochitto Street. Pictured from left are Dr. Cecile Dianne Bunch, Dr. Brenda Robison, Tony Fields, LLJuna Grennell Weir, Superintendent Zandra McDonald, Phillip West, Bobby Dennis, and Mayor Dan Gibson. (Photo credit: Albert L. Jones)
His relationship with Booker T. Washington (1856-1915), founder of Tuskegee Institute, which is now Tuskegee University, led to the creation of the Rosenwald Fund in 1917 that provided financial support for African American schools in the South.
Bobby Dennis, the director of the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture, said the marker unveiled in Natchez honors “the significant educational legacy of the Rosenwald Schools of Adams County.”
The marker is posted in front of the administrative office of the school district at 10 Homochitto Street.
“This marker is in front of the school district office to recognize the fact that Rosenwald Schools were located in each of the five county districts,” said Dennis before the unveiling ceremony. He noted Fitts School, Kingston School, Milford School, Pine Mount School, and Roseland School, were all funded by Rosenwald.
“It is important for us to include the educational progression of the county as well as the city,” Dennis said. “Education is still our most important asset for preserving the forward movement of the city, and our youths are the future.”
Behind the marker: Phillip West and LLJuna Grennell Weir (Photo credit: Roscoe Barnes III)
Dennis said Philip West, vice president of the district’s school board, was one of his biggest motivators in getting the Rosenwald story out correctly “because of the way he helped pioneer the building of the new Natchez High School.”
Dennis conducted the research for the new marker and organized the unveiling ceremony that was hosted by the school district. He said the marker was sponsored by Jerry Klinger of the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, in partnership with the museum and Regions Bank.
Superintendent Zandra McDonald attended the ceremony along with board members and several officials of the school district.
“It’s inspiring to see the intersection of our history and our present moment,” said McDonald. “We honor and celebrate the contributions of those who laid the foundation for formal education in the Natchez-Adams School District. We also celebrate the forward-thinking vision of our Natchez-Adams School District Board of Trustees, who continue to reimagine what education can and should be for the students of Natchez and Adams County.”
Natchez celebrates unveiling of marker honoring Julius Rosenwald Schools in Adams County. (Photo credit: Albert L. Jones)
McDonald offered thanks to the founders and current leadership of the Natchez-Adams educational system. “And most importantly, we acknowledge that progress is a collective effort,” she said. “It takes all of us—educators, families, community members, and partners—to ensure that the Natchez-Adams School District continues to grow, continues to evolve, and continues to keep its focus on preparing our students for success in a dynamic and ever-changing world.”
Mayor Dan Gibson also participated in the day’s ceremony. Speaking on Friday, he said, “The story of Mr. Rosenwald and his passion for education is truly inspiring. It speaks to our time today. Without a doubt, education and exceptional opportunities are the answer for all of our citizens. I am grateful to Bobby Dennis and NAPAC for bringing this little-known story to light. May it inspire us as a people to do all we can to see that our children have every advantage they can be afforded.”
Dennis said it is important to acknowledge the contributions of both Rosenwald and Washington. Together, they built nearly 5,000 schools across the South, he said, adding many of these schools were isolated and existed in rural communities “where educational opportunity had been intentionally denied for generations.”
The Rosenwald Schools marker was designed and manufactured by Lake Shore Industries of Erie, Pennsylvania.