Public schools have played a significant role in Black history in the United States. Prior to the Civil War, many southern states had laws prohibiting the education of enslaved African Americans. After the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, the Reconstruction period brought about efforts to establish public schools for African Americans.

During the era of Jim Crow laws in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, schools were segregated by race, with Black students receiving significantly less funding and resources compared to white students. This led to the landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, which declared segregated schools unconstitutional.

Following the Brown decision, efforts were made to desegregate public schools, though progress was slow and met with resistance in many parts of the country. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s brought about further advancements in desegregation and equal access to education for Black students.

Today, public schools continue to be a critical battleground for issues of racial equity and educational justice. Disparities in funding, resources, and academic outcomes persist, and many activists continue to fight for equal opportunities for Black students in public education.