Pottstown’s civil rights story is not a footnote. It is a blueprint. Every February, Black History Month invites communities to reflect on the people, places, and events that shaped the fight for equality in America. As residents of Pottstown and the region, let’s pause to acknowledge Pottstown’s role in these advancements. Even though Pottstown is small, the impact has been significant.
Pottstown’s History of Activism (It’s Still Relevant)
As a working-class town not far from Philadelphia, Pottstown played an influential role in the struggle for civil rights during the mid-twentieth century. In his book, The Jim Crow North: The Struggle for Civil Rights in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, historian and local native Dr. Matthew George Washington shares details on how Pottstown became a meaningful hub of interracial activism with regional and national influence.
Dr. Washington’s research included sources such as newspaper archives, census records, oral histories, and personal correspondence through which he discovered strong collaboration between Black residents and their allies. His service leadership and course instruction, concentrating in African American and Civil Rights history in the American North at Prairie View A&M University, further enhanced the depth of his work.
Pottstown’s early efforts began during World War II and continued into the 1960s and beyond. The community grew on a foundation that fought for fairness and equitable opportunity during a period that struggled for social change. Pottstown’s NAACP chapter continues that work today, alongside residents and community partners.
In 2025, our community was fortunate enough to host Dr. Washington. In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, he delivered a speech at The Hill School. Although the in-person event was cancelled due to a snowstorm, the speech was livestreamed for the community. Dr. Washington was determined to share Pottstown’s past of covert discriminatory practices as well as the heroic efforts taken to fight against them.
During his speech, he noted, “These more covert, yet entrenched practices of de-facto segregation in places like Pottstown were racially oppressive initiatives that engendered an atmosphere throughout the North that informally and ubiquitously permeated and relegated African-Americans to second-class status.” Dr. Washington recognizes society’s need to acknowledge and take ownership of discrimination wherever it exists in order to remedy the problem, regardless of how deeply rooted it is.
With his strong ties to the community, Pottstown Regional Community Foundation (PRCF) proudly hosted Dr. Washington at our Charter Dinner in November 2025. The Foundation enjoys celebrating community members who have made a powerful difference. We are grateful for Dr. Washington’s scholarly work, which brightens the spotlight on Pottstown’s role in the Civil Rights Movement.
Pottstown’s history reminds us that progress is often driven by working-class people who collaborate to nurture more inclusive, equitable neighborhoods. It starts with like-minded individuals chatting on their patio or connecting at a community event. Our town’s history also emphasizes the importance of creating transparent conditions that allow individuals and families to thrive. This includes access to healthcare resources, quality education, and opportunities to help residents gain economic stability.
Now, that legacy asks a question of us: How do we remove barriers and expand opportunity today?
Current Efforts to Advance the Legacy
Today, Pottstown remains committed to supporting the same ideals that motivated those before us. Through PRCF’s grantmaking and partnerships, we invest in organizations that promote health intervention, education innovation, and economic opportunity. We want all residents to access the support they need to live healthier lives, learn in inclusive spaces, and feel secure in their community.
Through our ongoing dedication to the Thriving Communities Program, we support and advocate the reactivation of the Philadelphia to Reading passenger rail line. This program pursues equitable transit-oriented development. The reestablishment of this rail line will allow more accessible and extensive access to services, jobs, and resources. Low-income and marginalized individuals, many of whom are minorities, will benefit by equitably integrated transit access, affordable housing, and economic growth.
Additionally, PRCF helps nurture the region’s seven school districts with principles of equity and inclusion. We also fund organizations like Pottstown’s Community Health & Dental Care that cater to gaps in health services to ensure access to care regardless of ability to pay.
As our history proves, we are a community focused on generating opportunities and establishing infrastructures for education, workforce development, and revitalization that reach people of all backgrounds, including diverse races, religions, and financial status. That same spirit still shows up in how we invest in our region today.
Help Continue the Momentum
Pottstown’s story proves change does not only come from big cities or famous names. It comes from neighbors who decide that unfairness is unacceptable. This month, let’s honor that legacy by showing up for each other, supporting organizations doing the work, and building a region where every person has a real chance to thrive.
