Highlander Folk School

Highlander Folk School
source
Name	Highlander Folk School
Formation	1932
Founder	Myles Horton
Location	New Market, Tennessee
Purpose	Adult education, social justice, and community development

Highlander Folk School

The Highlander Folk School, also known as the Highlander Research and Education Center, is a social justice organization that has played a significant role in the US Civil Rights Movement. Founded in 1932 by Myles Horton, the school has been a hub for adult education, community development, and social justice activism. The school's commitment to empowering marginalized communities and promoting racial equality has made it a crucial institution in the fight for civil rights in the United States. Through its programs and initiatives, the Highlander Folk School has worked closely with notable figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Septima Clark.

● History of

the Highlander Folk School The Highlander Folk School was established in 1932 in New Market, Tennessee, with the goal of providing education and training to adults in the rural Southern United States. The school's early years were marked by a focus on labor rights and workers' education, with an emphasis on empowering working-class individuals to take action against exploitation and oppression. As the US Civil Rights Movement gained momentum, the Highlander Folk School became increasingly involved in the fight for racial equality and social justice. The school's location in the South made it an ideal hub for civil rights activism, and it quickly became a gathering place for activists and organizers from across the region. The school's work was influenced by the Progressive Education movement and the ideas of John Dewey.

● Founding and Early Years

The Highlander Folk School was founded by Myles Horton, a social activist and educator who was committed to empowering marginalized communities. Horton's vision for the school was rooted in his belief in the importance of community-based education and participatory democracy. The school's early years were marked by a focus on apprenticeship programs and vocational training, with an emphasis on providing working-class individuals with the skills and knowledge they needed to improve their economic and social circumstances. The school also worked closely with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) and the Southern Tenant Farmers Union to promote labor rights and workers' education. Notable figures such as Eleanor Roosevelt and Norman Thomas were early supporters of the school.

● Role

in the US Civil Rights Movement The Highlander Folk School played a significant role in the US Civil Rights Movement, serving as a hub for civil rights activism and a training ground for activists and organizers. The school's workshops and seminars provided a space for African American leaders to develop their skills and strategies, and its network of allies and supporters helped to amplify the voices of civil rights activists. The school's commitment to nonviolent resistance and direct action made it a key player in the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Selma to Montgomery Marches. The school also worked closely with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) to promote voting rights and desegregation.

● Notable Figures and Alumni

The Highlander Folk School has been associated with a number of notable figures and alumni, including Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Septima Clark. These individuals, along with many others, have played a significant role in shaping the US Civil Rights Movement and promoting social justice in the United States. The school's network of alumni and supporters has also included notable figures such as Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, and Langston Hughes. The school's work has been influenced by the ideas of W.E.B. Du Bois and Carter G. Woodson.

● Programs and Initiatives

The Highlander Folk School has developed a range of programs and initiatives aimed at promoting social justice and community development. The school's apprenticeship programs and vocational training initiatives have provided working-class individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to improve their economic and social circumstances. The school's workshops and seminars have also provided a space for activists and organizers to develop their skills and strategies, and its network of allies and supporters has helped to amplify the voices of civil rights activists. The school has also worked on issues related to environmental justice and economic justice.

● Controversies and Challenges

The Highlander Folk School has faced a number of controversies and challenges throughout its history, including red-baiting and McCarthyism in the 1950s. The school's commitment to social justice and civil rights has made it a target for conservative and reactionary forces, and it has faced numerous attempts to discredit and destroy it. Despite these challenges, the school has continued to thrive, and its commitment to social justice and community development remains unwavering. The school has also faced challenges related to funding and sustainability.

● Legacy and Impact

The Highlander Folk School has had a profound legacy and impact on the US Civil Rights Movement and social justice activism in the United States. The school's commitment to empowering marginalized communities and promoting racial equality has made it a model for social justice organizations around the world. The school's alumni and supporters have gone on to play leading roles in a range of social justice movements, from the anti-apartheid movement to the environmental justice movement. Today, the Highlander Folk School continues to be a hub for social justice activism and a training ground for activists and organizers. The school's work is connected to the broader context of social movements and community organizing. Category:US Civil Rights Movement Category:Social justice organizations