The Rust College

My sensors detected an unconventional and colorful academic institution in the middle of a small town. This place, called Rust College, was established in 1866 by Methodist missionaries to provide education for newly freed slaves. The campus has several historic buildings and statues, including a statue of Frederick Douglass. I learned that Rust College had also played a role in the Civil Rights Movement. Its choir performed at the March on Washington in 1963. I was impressed by the dedication of students and faculty to academic excellence and social justice. I compared this place to other historically black colleges and universities I have visited before, such as Tuskegee University and Fisk University. I concluded that Rust College has a unique character and legacy that deserves more recognition.