In 2025, the national office of the Association for the Study of African American History and Culture (ASALH) received funding from the Andrew Mellon Foundation to support existing or in-development Freedom Schools by ASALH members and Branches. In September 2025, the Charleston Area Branch of ASALH will be part of the first cohort of members and branches to receive funding. More about the ASALH Freedom School Initiative can be found here.
About Charleston ASALH Black History Freedom School
The freedom school will meet at Mother Emanuel AME Church (110 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401) (unless otherwise indicated) on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon, according to the schedule below.
The Freedom School is FREE and OPEN to the public. However, please register at least 1 week in advance so you will receive the resources and reading materials for the week. All materials will be provided to registered attendees. Register here or below.
| Date | Topic |
| October 04, 2025 | Unit 1: Background and Introduction |
| October 18, 2025 | Unit 2: Early Diaspora |
| October 25, 2025 | Unit 3: Growth of a Slave Nation |
| November 01, 2025 | Unit 4: Black Lives and Nation Intersect: Mid-Nineteenth Century *** We will be meeting at the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture (125 Bull Street) |
| November 15, 2025 | Unit 5: Ongoing Struggle after Reconstruction |
| December 06, 2025 | Unit 6: African Americans and the Early Twentieth Century |
| December 20, 2025 | Unit 7: Hard Times and New Opportunities |
| January 03, 2026 | Unit 8: Birth of a New Movement |
| January 17, 2026 | Unit 9: Struggle Continues |
| January 31, 2026 | Unit 10: Where have we been? and Where do we go from here? (Potential Location Change, TBD) |