Colonial Williamsburg is nearing the end of its extensive restoration of the Williamsburg Bray School, recognized as the oldest surviving schoolhouse for Black children in the United States. Established in 1760 by the Associates of Dr. Bray, a British Anglican charity, the school aimed to teach enslaved and free Black children to read, though its curriculum was designed to reinforce religious submission to slavery. However, for the hundreds of children who attended, literacy became a gateway to opportunities beyond the societal roles imposed on them.
The school’s rededication on November 1 marked a significant milestone, with public tours scheduled to commence this spring. Situated on Colonial Williamsburg’s grounds in collaboration with William & Mary’s Bray School Lab, the restored building serves as a testament to both oppression and resilience in early American history. Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, the event’s keynote speaker, highlighted the school’s historical importance, stating it holds “extraordinary potential” to illustrate how the aspirations of a few shaped broader societal values.
