PIctured: Esmont Colored School (1911)
Source: Scottsville Museum
Digital Archive
Education in Esmont
Education was a central pillar of Esmont’s African American community.
Efforts to formalize African American education in the United States began during Reconstruction (1865–1877). In Esmont Proper, these efforts produced three distinct types of segregated schools, each supported by different funding structures. However, it was the sustained commitment of local community members that ultimately ensured the survival and success of these schools.
Beyond serving as centers of learning, these schools quickly became vital hubs for social and cultural interaction. They provided a space for community to gather, strengthening and reinforcing the close-knit nature of rural Esmont.
Learn more about schools, community leaders, and their lasting impact on Esmont.
Completed Projects
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 Architecture of Equalization Schools
By Victoria Bitrick | UVA School of Architecture
Explore the story behind equalization schools—built to enforce the “separate but equal” doctrine that shaped segregated education in America.
Created by UVA architecture student Victoria Bitrick, this Story Map highlights the unique design of these schools and features BF Yancey Elementary as a key case study. Discover how architecture and history intersect in this important chapter of educational segregation.
100 Reasons We Love Yancey:
The Yancey Hearts Exhibit
By Jeida Brooks | UVA School of Architecture
Curated by Jeida Brooks, this virtual exhibit showcases the Yancey Hearts Exhibit, one of the final school projects completed before BF Yancey Elementary School closed in 2017.
The project, titled 100 Reasons We Love Yancey, features hearts displaying reasons why students loved their school, capturing the community’s affection and spirit, now forever memorialized in the exhibit.
Interested in learning more about African American Education in Central Virginia?
Explore a curated list of museums, archives, and other historical websites where you can continue to learn about the rich history of African American education in the region.