Chapter 2, Rockefeller and Ebenezer, Summary and Analysis

The Rockefeller family would have a lasting impact on King and his family. It all began in 1882 when two women made a plea at an Ohio church John D. Rockefeller attended with his family. They sought financial help for the Atlanta Female Baptist Seminary, a Negro school for girls. These two women turned out to be teachers of Rockefeller's wife. Mrs. Rockefeller talked her husband into giving a large donation to the women. A few years later, the Rockefeller family traveled to Atlanta so that Mrs. Rockefeller could visit her old teachers. During her trip it was announced the name of the school had been changed to Spelman, for Mrs. Rockefeller's maiden name. Impressed by the school, Rockefeller began buying up land around the school in order to build a proper building for the students...