Prince Edward County, located in Virginia, holds a significant place in Black history due to its role in the struggle for civil rights and education equality. In 1951, the county became ground zero for a major civil rights case known as Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County. This case became one of the five cases consolidated into the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision that declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

In response to the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors voted to close all public schools in the county in 1959 rather than integrate them. This decision left Black students without access to education for five years while white students attended private segregation academies.

The closures sparked national outrage and protests, and eventually led to the formation of the Prince Edward Free Schools, which were established by the community to provide education for Black students during the school closures. In 1964, the Supreme Court ruled in Griffin v. County School Board of Prince Edward County that the county's actions were unconstitutional, leading to the reopening of public schools and the gradual desegregation of the school system.

The struggle for education equality in Prince Edward County is a powerful example of the resilience and determination of Black communities in the face of systemic racism and discrimination. The county's role in the civil rights movement serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight for racial equality in America.