Sampson's Post College Career
Post College Career
Benjamin K. Sampson would go on to become a college professor at two African American colleges such as Wilberforce College and Avery College. During his tenure at Avery College, he would teach mathematics, sciences, and language.
Benjamin worked at Avery College until 1873, when a fiscal crisis hit, causing many colleges including Avery College to go under and close. Oberlin College managed to survive but Sampson was now out of a job and needed work. John M. Langston & Peter H. Clark would recommend him to the Clay Street School in Memphis, Tennessee where he was hired in 1877.
Notably Benjamin would get offered a government position from 21st President of the United States, Chester A. Arthur. Benjamin declined the government position claiming that his job as an educator was far too important.
In the summer of 1880, former President Ulysses S. Grant would attend the Cotton Exchange. After the event he would later greet the African American population in the Central Baptist Church. Where Grant was greeted by Benjamin K. Sampson. Grant spoke at the church and said he was thankful and proud for what Sampson was doing for African Americans in his community.
In 1890, Sampson would be elected principal of a colored school and two years later he would be voted into the position again when resolutions supporting him were adopted on July 26th. The vote was 462 in favor and 3 opposed. However, two weeks later it appears that Benjamin K. Sampson was surrounded by controversy. According to the Memphis-Appeal Avalanche, the school board was going to investigate Sampson to see if he approved of an incendiary speech a student gave at a commencement ceremony. In addition, the newspaper claimed that he was not educating his pupils properly. This is most likey post reconstruction whites in Memphis just criticizing any "radicalism" that could challenge the status quo and question white supremacy in the South.