Zora Neale Hurston and the Yankee Schoolmarms

Why were the whites from the North curious about Zora Neale's school?

What motivated the Yankee Schoolmarms to be involved in Southern schools post-Civil War?

Final answer:

White teachers from the North, known as Yankee Schoolmarms, were curious about and involved in Southern schools post-Civil War due to a sense of missionary duty and a desire to contribute to the educational uplift of freed Blacks, despite cultural clashes and opposition.

White teachers from the North, often referred to as Yankee Schoolmarms, were motivated by various factors in their curiosity and involvement with schools like the one Zora Neale Hurston attended. Many White women saw their work in Southern schools as part of their missionary duty, bringing values such as punctuality, cleanliness, good manners, and standard speech to the region. They also were part of a broader effort, which included the Freedmen's Bureau, to contribute to the educational uplift of freed Black individuals following the Civil War.

Despite the good intentions, there were cultural clashes and the imposition of New England Puritan values, which were criticized for neglecting the cultural and educational practices that were already part of the Black communities. Additionally, there were direct oppositions to the work of the Freedmen's schools, including the burning of school buildings and threatening of teachers. Nevertheless, these efforts established some of the foundational stones for the growth of a Black middle class and instilled an appreciation of education within the community, which would continue into the self-education movements among African Americans.