A Jewish immigrant who rose to lead Sears, Julius Rosenwald, and Booker T. Washington, born into slavery and founder of Tuskegee Institute, teamed up in 1912 to create a groundbreaking initiative for building public schools for African American children in the segregated South. This partnership significantly boosted educational opportunities for Black communities and contributed to the Civil Rights Movement. Out of nearly 5,000 Rosenwald schools established between 1912 and 1937, only about 500 remain, many in disrepair. A Better Life for their Children: Julius Rosenwald, Booker T. Washington, and the 4,978 Schools that Changed America documents this legacy by photographer, author, social activist Andrew Feiler. He traveled over 25,000 miles, photographing 105 schools and interviewing former students, teachers, and community leaders across the states involved. Feiler was named "Book Photographer of the Year" by Prix de la Photographie Paris in 2022 for this documentary book.
New York City, NY; NYC