A Civil War, Freedmen, Quakers, Reconstruction and a Beloved School. During an unprecedented time of crisis in America, Laing School was founded by a bold young Quaker lady in 1866. During Laing's unique 150 year existence, the school educated thousands of the descendants of the enslaved from the plantations in Mt. Pleasant, SC. This is a fascinating story of how the much beloved Laing School provided a safe place for children to grow and flourish during racially challenging times, for over a century and a half.
During the Civil War over 500,000 enslaved people escaped from southern plantations and or were emancipated by the Union Army. From the resulting humanitarian crisis, a remarkable and forgotten educational legacy was born. "The Freedman Schools Movement" came about because of ordinary Americans, black and white, who had the vision and courage to do what was right for America. These Educational Trailblazers smashed through the obstacles of resistance and opposition while building a profound educational legacy that changed America.