June 28, 1770 - Anthony Benezet Opens School for African Americans

On June 28, 1770, Quaker educator and abolitionist Anthony Benezet opened a school in Philadelphia specifically for Black children, both free and enslaved. This groundbreaking school reflected Benezet’s deep conviction that African Americans are intellectually equal to whites and deserve equal access to education. Benezet taught many of the classes himself, often using his own funds to support the school. His work marked a significant step forward in the fight for racial equality and laid the foundation for the American abolitionist movement.