African Americans responded to segregation in many different ways. They protested openly, and those who did risked being attacked by white mobs. Some were lynched or murdered, often by hanging, for speaking out against "white rule" . A lot of African Americans responded to segregation by leaving the South and a few chose to move back to Africa. They were pushed from the South by racism and poverty. They were attracted to other places by the better opportunities and more equal treatment. Some moved to the West to work as cowboys and Indian fighters. Most African Americans remained in the South and worked hard in their families, churches, and communities to improve their lives. A growing number of blacks owned their own business. Between 1865 and 1903 the number of black owned businesses in the South soared from about 2,000 to 25,000. Families, churches, and communities also banded together to build schools for black children. When slavery ended only 5% of African Americans could read, and by the 1900's more than 50% could read and write.
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