Crumbling Legacy

Built in the early 1900s for African-American children, _Rosenwald Schools_ are disappearing from the landscape.

By Joetta L. Sack

Wake Forest, N.C.

Ravaged by time and neglect, DuBois High School still stands as a symbol of the decent education that African-Americans across the South craved, well before they were allowed into the schools attended by their white peers.

The boarded-up red-brick structure has gaping holes in its roof. Weeds have overtaken much of the sidewalk. Wooden eaves are rotting, and the front entry is sagging sadly after years of indifference.

To the few who know the story of this school, though, its tired appearance can’t overshadow...