Digital Archive
African American Education in Esmont: Making a Way out of No Way
Installed in 2021, African American Education in Esmont: Making a Way out of No Way, follows the history of African American education in Esmont.
The exhibit explores the community’s persistent efforts to establish and sustain schools, honoring the resilience and determination of Esmont’s African American community in building a foundation for future generations.
African American Education in Esmont is a physical exhibition located in the BF Yancey Community Center in Esmont, Virginia. Here, you can see the contents of the exhibit and gain more information about the topics discussed.
Esmont’s Early Schools
(1870s - 1910s)
The Beginnings of Education in Esmont:
Discover how African American education began in Esmont after the Civil War, starting with the establishment of the 1869 Glendower School.
Learn about the early institutions that laid the foundation for schooling in the Esmont community despite all odds.
Community Efforts Towards African American Schools
Early 20th Century
Continuing Education Efforts in Esmont:
In the early 20th century, many community organizations worked together to fund and support schools for Esmont’s Black community.
Community leaders like Benjamin Franklin Yancey helped establish the Esmont School League, which raised money and secured land for new educational facilities. These collective efforts led to the 1916 opening of the Esmont School for Colored Students, a lasting testament to the community’s dedication to education.
BF Yancey Elementary School
1960s - 2017
Legacy of BF Yancey:
BF Yancey Elementary School opened in the early 1960s and served many generations of Esmont's and Southern Albemarle's students.
Despite community protest, the Albemarle County school system voted to close Yancey as an elementary school in 2017. Today, the school serves as a community center, continuing to connect the Esmont community.