In the early 1800s, free African Americans founded the first African American colleges. This period saw the establishment of institutions that aimed to provide education to Black individuals, reflecting the growing emphasis on education among free Black communities. Some examples include the founding of institutions like Ashmun Institute (later Lincoln University) in Pennsylvania in 1854, which provided higher education opportunities for African Americans.
The other statements do not accurately represent the realities of that time. For example, plantation owners typically forbade religious practice among enslaved workers, and not all American churches protested discrimination and slavery at that time; in fact, many supported or were complicit in discriminatory practices. Additionally, African Americans were often excluded from religious revival meetings.