Editor’s note: This is the first part of a two-part series about Lincoln School and the anniversary of integration in Richmond. The end of the Civil War marked the official conclusion of slavery, which made education for Black children legal. In response, Missouri amended its Constitution to adopt a “Separate But Equal” standard. This meant that Black children were prohibited from attending school with white children and were therefore required to have their own separate schools. In April 1867, Missouri mandated that all school districts with 15 or more Black children establish a school for their education, leading to the foundation of numerous Black schools across the state. In March 1867, the Black community of Richmond took matters into their own hands by raising $200 toward building a school. This amount, equivalent to approximately $4,000 today, was particularly impressive considering that less than two years earlier, it had been illegal for them to possess money. Their…