Playing as Children

Though children spent a good deal of time working at home or on the land with their families, education was highly valued amongst African Americans as it was a recently acquired right and allowed for self-improvement. Small Blacks-only schools cropped up in towns across the Ozarks, promoting literacy and pride amongst African American youth.

While many of the games played by African American children in the Ozarks did not require toys, due to both creativity and necessity, when money allowed, children were treated to toys the same as anywhere else. Artifacts in the museum that provide a peek into playtime include a selection of marbles, while one of the first widespread education toys is represented with a set of illustrated alphabet blocks.