History education has been the subject of much concern over the years. Historically black colleges and universities were established to try to provide an education to freed slaves that they were unable to obtain. For 20th century African Americans, attending school was a burden. Children had to endure long walks to designated schools, being denied the lessons white students had in their schools, outdated books, and school supplies delivered. African Americans across the United States fought for their children's right to receive a good education, education provided only at white schools. There was a time when schools could legally deny a student acceptance into their institutions based solely on the color of their skin. Many African Americans tried and most of them were rejected. Students at all levels were denied, from kindergarten through college. After many attempts to integrate schools, parents of children who were denied education just like white children, realized that it would be easier to simply build their own schools. Contrary to many beliefs, most HBCUs were not initially established by African American educators. The founders were often white slave owners. With the land received from the federal government, many institutions were built to help improve public education. Getting an education as a former slave was not provided by the state; so they had to band together and teach each other to read and write. Any form of education was a death wish. They knew it but they wanted to improve their future and that of those who would come. For slaves this meant being captured and dying or getting lucky and managing to avoid detection and getting a mediocre education. Abraham Lincoln was known for...... half of the document ...... for Fight - Separate are not equal." Preparing for the fight - Separate are not equal. http://americanhistory.si.edu/brown/ History/3-organized/hu-law-school.html (accessed March 7, 2014). “The Morrill Act and the Land-Grant Colleges.” edu/CampusGuide/land-grant.html (accessed March 12, 2014). Thurgood Marshall College Fund Inc. “About Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUS).” March 7, 2014).Thurgood Marshall College. “Thurgood Marshall Biography.” .htm (accessed March 14, 2014).Trueman, Chris “James Meredith.” .htm (accessed in March 10, 2014).