Prince Edward County, Virginia has a significant place in Black history due to its role in the Civil Rights Movement and the struggle for educational equality. In 1951, a group of African-American students in Prince Edward County filed a lawsuit against the county school board demanding equal education opportunities. This lawsuit was later folded into the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case.

In response to the Brown v. Board of Education ruling that struck down segregated schools, Prince Edward County officials decided to close all public schools in 1959 rather than desegregate. This decision led to what became known as the "Prince Edward County school closings," where thousands of Black students were left without access to education for several years.

During this time, private schools that only admitted White students were opened, further exacerbating racial divides in the community. The closures of public schools in Prince Edward County were finally challenged in court, and in 1964, the Supreme Court ruled in Griffin v. County School Board of Prince Edward County that the closings were unconstitutional.

The struggle for educational equality in Prince Edward County serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by African Americans in the fight for civil rights and the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity.