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Education After
the Civil War, schools were established to educate former slaves. Initially, many of the schools in rural areas were churches
that doubled as schools. But several large foundations, such as the Julius Rosenwald Fund and the Anna T. Jeanes Fund,
helped establish a more solid educational base for the Black citizens of Wilson County and other small, rural areas throughout
the South. Later, teachers and
principals in the county's segregated schools fought to overcome tremendous barriers in teaching the area's African-American
children.
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Churches Blacks
in Wilson County, like Blacks everywhere in the South following the Civil War, confronted many obstacles, but took comfort
in the many churches throughout the area. Pickett Chapel Methodist Church was established in Lebanon in 1866; the creation
of the first church for Blacks would become a major factor in the formation of the Lebanon community.
Business and professions While they endured hardships, many former slaves used their skills to build successful businesses after the Civil
War, and throughout the 20th Century. Blacksmiths, carpenters, grocers, restaurant owners, barbers and beauticians, funeral
directors, physicians and teachers have all left their marks on the history of African Americans in Wilson County.
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| Displays include a selection of photos and artifacts. |
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Research Center The Roy Bailey African American History Center houses a small Research Center that includes books, documents, videotapes
and other artifacts useful to researchers and historians.
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