Dallas City Wire

The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum is launching a new exhibition titled "A Better Life for Their Children: Julius Rosenwald, Booker T. Washington, and the 4,978 Schools that Changed America." The exhibition will be available to the public from March 7 through August 17, 2025. It features photographs and stories by Andrew Feiler that highlight the initiative to build thousands of schools for Black children in the segregated South and Southwest from 1912 to 1937.

This educational program was a collaboration between Booker T. Washington, an influential Black educator, and Julius Rosenwald, a Jewish businessman and philanthropist. Together they established what became known as Rosenwald schools. These institutions played a crucial role in their communities, serving not only as educational facilities but also as community centers.

Many individuals who later became prominent in the Civil Rights Movement were educated in these schools. Notable figures include Medgar Evers, Maya Angelou, several members of the Little Rock Nine, and Congressman John Lewis.

Currently, about 500 of the original 4,978 Rosenwald schools remain. Photographer Andrew Feiler traveled over 25,000 miles to document these sites and interviewed various former students and community leaders to capture their historical significance.

Mary Pat Higgins, president and CEO of the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum stated: “We believe deeply in the importance of honoring history to better understand its lessons for our lives today. A Better Life for Their Children reminds us of the importance of addressing educational disparities and promoting inclusive learning opportunities, given that education is the cornerstone of transformative change.” She added that this exhibition underscores how two leaders from different backgrounds initiated one of the first cross-racial partnerships to improve education.

Andy Smith from Texas Instruments expressed pride in supporting this exhibition: “Texas Instruments is proud to present this important exhibition that reminds us of the power of education and its ability to change lives for generations.”

The exhibition is supported by Texas Instruments along with additional contributions from Bank of Texas, Debbie and Ron Greene, Match Group, and Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District.

For more information on "A Better Life for Their Children" or ticket details visit dhhrm.org/better-life/.

About Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum:

The museum's mission focuses on teaching about the Holocaust while advancing human rights to combat prejudice. Established by local Holocaust survivors in 1984, it now operates from a facility in downtown Dallas offering extensive exhibits on historical topics including civil rights.

For media inquiries contact Lucy Hart at lucy@projectmockingbird.com