THIS REVIEW OF THE STATUS OF THE EDUCATION OF THE AMERICAN NEGRO POINTS OUT THAT HISTORICALLY HIS SCHOOLING AND EDUCATION HAVE BEEN SHAPED BY FORCES OVER WHICH HE HAS HAD VERY LITTLE CONTROL. THE REVIEW DESCRIBES THE NEGRO'S MODEST EDUCATIONAL BEGINNINGS DURING THE COLONIAL PERIOD (PRIMARILY DEVOTED TO RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION) AND PRE- AND POST-CIVIL WAR DEVELOPMENTS. THE GREATEST EFFORT TOWARD ESTABLISHING SCHOOLS FOR NEGROES OCCURRED DURING THE RECONSTRUCTION ERA, MAINLY UNDER CHURCH SPONSORSHIP, WHEN THE MOST IMPORTANT NEGRO INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION WERE FOUNDED. THE DUAL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN THE SOUTH WAS GIVEN LEGAL SANCTION IN 1896 BY THE PLESSY VS. FERGUSON CASE. ALTHOUGH IN THE 20TH CENTURY PROFOUND CHANGES IN PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR NEGROES TOOK PLACE, BOTH IN TERMS OF ATTENDANCE RATES AND IMPROVEMENT IN EDUCATIONAL QUALITY, IT WAS CLEAR THAT SEGREGATED SCHOOLS WERE UNEQUAL. THE ARTICLE TRACES THE LEGAL BATTLES AGAINST THESE SEGREGATED JIM CROW SCHOOLS AND DESCRIBES THE DEVELOPMENTS IN DESEGREGATION SINCE 1960 IN SOUTHERN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SPECIAL ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO REGIONAL VARIATIONS. IT ALSO CONTAINS A DISCUSSION OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR NEGROES AND THE PARTICULAR PROBLEMS FACED BY NEGRO COLLEGES AND STUDENTS. THE ISSUES OF NORTHERN SCHOOLS, RACIAL BALANCE, AND THE CURRENT CONCERN WITH CULTURAL DEPRIVATION AND LOW ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT ARE ALSO NOTED. THIS ARTICLE IS PUBLISHED IN DAVIS, JOHN P., ED. THE AMERICAN NEGRO REFERENCE BOOK. ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., PRENTICE-HALL, C1966. P.360-395. (NH)