Post-Emancipation Labor: From Slavery to Sharecropping
Emancipation ended slavery, but it did not erase universities’ dependence on exploited Black labor. In the South, many institutions transitioned to using sharecroppers and low-wage Black workers to maintain their farms, kitchens, and grounds. This new system of labor perpetuated economic hardship and racial hierarchy, keeping Black families tied to the land without fair compensation or opportunity. The legacy of this exploitation continued to shape campus life and local economies well into the twentieth century. Learn more from Smithsonian Magazine.
