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Proud Shoes: The Fitzgerald Family

Uploaded by mfields on Mar 28, 2004

Proud Shoes: How Education Plays a Central Role in the Fitzgerald Family


Since the inception of slavery in the United States education was socially, and often legally, forbidden to slaves and African Americans, and it was not until the conclusion of the Civil War that any substantial hope for an educated African American populace finally arose. In Proud Shoes, the biography of Robert and Cornelia Fitzgerald as told by Pauli Murray, education plays a central role in the development of Robert Fitzgerald and his family’s life. The contrast between Robert and his wife Cornelia, the educated African Americans, and the uneducated, and the accepting white Americans, with those holding onto the past, depicts African Americans as having given up iron chains to struggle to remove those of ignorance. As the primary distance between white and black Americans, creating educational opportunities was a fundamental goal in assuring a move towards equality, and the experiences and struggles Robert Fitzgerald faced in his pursuit exemplify those of the African Americans living during the same defining era in American history.

Robert Fitzgerald’s entire life was focused on obtaining an education and educating others. When he was whipped by a racist white man Robert’s mother swore she would not let him hire out again, and instead sent him to school in Wilmington. This proved to be a great opportunity for Robert Fitzgerald. He “grew up with a passion for knowledge (102)” and his brothers admired him and often followed his advice in important family decisions. Eventually Robert Fitzgerald discontinued his studies on his own accord to move to the south and become a teacher. When he did return home “he was leaving behind him a school valued at $250, an enrollment of 160 scholars, and a freedman’s store (185).” The community had grown largely self sufficient because of the institution of education within it. Further, six of these scholars later became prominent leaders.

Even when Robert Fitzgerald had started his own family his determination towards educating his fellow African American’s did not falter. He passed his respect for education onto his progeny. His three daughters all became teachers such as the very passionate Aunt Pauline who “began a teaching career which did not end until [she] was seventy six (240).” He and his daughters took utmost pride in being schoolteachers and felt it was a patriotic profession because they were advancing the African American. Robert Fitzgerald...

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Uploaded by:   mfields

Date:   03/28/2004

Category:   Literature

Length:   7 pages (1,583 words)

Views:   15911

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