Advancing Black education and civil rights in the segregated South

The author, a Black philanthropist who began life under Jim Crow, explores the overlooked legacy of Julius Rosenwald, a pioneer in social-justice philanthropy. Unlike traditional philanthropists like Carnegie or Rockefeller, Rosenwald sought to address the root causes of inequality. Born to Jewish immigrants in Illinois, Rosenwald achieved success as president of Sears, Roebuck, and Company but devoted much of his wealth to advancing Black education and civil rights in the segregated South, partnering with leaders like Booker T. Washington to build nearly 5,000 schools.

Rosenwald’s approach to philanthropy differed from his contemporaries: he focused on investing in individuals, ideas, and institutions, and emphasized lived experience over established expertise. Unlike others, he was skeptical of endowments and insisted his assets be spent within 25 years of his death, preventing his legacy from becoming self-serving. His story exemplifies the intertwined destinies of Black and Jewish Americans and underscores the importance of confronting inequality as a shared American project.

highlighting the need to pursue justice for all.