Black Union Reflection

The purpose of this paper is to argue based on the founding principles for their establishment, HBCUs hold no educational justification to continue in the midst of the twenty-first century. Frist, the paper will cover a brief historical context around the founding principles of HBCUs. Next, legislation that allowed them to thrive and maintained existence will be presented. To conclude, implications for HBCUs and potential next steps will be presented. Historically Black Colleges and Universities were an instrumental educational piece for African American during the 19th and 20th century, they are not longer relevant in the 21st century

For generations African Americans have been disadvantaged in America and effects of these injustices have made a lasting impression. Education is one of the leading problems in the black community. Though there have many reforms in education over the years, racial injustices still exist because no attention in placed on how legislature affects people of color. I was raised in a middle-class family of educators. My entire life I’ve been told to “stay in school, get an education, and work hard so that you can beat the system.” Recognizing the structural forces in my life has helped me understand my place in society. Being able to “understand everyday life, not through personal circumstances but through the broader historical forces that

The research conducted by Venzant-Chambers (2009) attempts to address the inequality that Black students experience in receiving equal access to quality educational opportunities. Therefore, the receivement gap places the focus on what opportunities are being provided to Black students. Venzant-Chambers (2009) explained receivement gap and its use in this discourse.

African American education systems and colleges faced many issues systematically and socially. The process of integrating colleges was a process faced with opposition because the idea that higher education was made for strictly for white upper-class men was still the underlying ideal. While equal opportunity was promoted in the light, behind the scenes, systematically money, policy, procedure hindered black education and equal opportunity. Realizing this injustice, black students sought to find their own solutions to social justice issues happening not only within higher education but their communities while leading by example.

The United States of America often forgets that historically black colleges and universities were created out of necessity. It has only been a couple of decades since African Americans have been allowed to get degrees from predominantly white institutions. Millions of African Americans have given their blood, sweat, and tears in hopes of gaining basic rights like education to their descendants. America has come a long way within the past fifty years but there is still a disconnect when it comes to believing what the average African American can accomplish as an individual. When it comes to historically black colleges and universities there is still a stigma that the education is less rigorous and

Ultimately the lack of reliable resources and preparation from underfunded schools leads African American students into being unprepared for college and jobs, once again reinforcing a vicious cycle of poverty within the community. Gillian B. White, a senior associate editor at The Atlantic, wrote a chilling article regarding the systematic racism that is deeply embedded in the American school system. In the article The Data: Race Influences School Funding, White states “At a given poverty level, districts that have a higher proportion of white students get substantially higher funding than districts that have more minority students” (White). In this quote White explains the clear correlation of race and inadequate funding in the American school

Historically black colleges and universities, otherwise known as HBCUs, have played an integral role in advancing the education of underprivileged black teenagers since their inception after the American Civil War. They have had students extremely well known in their fields today, such as billionaire entertainer Oprah Winfrey, the first African American Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr. Though their graduation rates tend to be around 1 in 3, they have produced a majority of successful African American professionals. For the continued advancement of African Americans, HBCUs are necessary for offering educational opportunities that their students had been historically denied and presently out of financial reach, while promoting strong family values and equality that may be lacking at traditional schools and displaying positive African American role models in their alumni and staff.

These claims have been well documented. However, the connection to the graduation gap may be clearer with an answer of how other factors such as financial and other family problems brought about by poverty affect them. The rest of the book provides possible solutions to questions of invisibility such as respecting and valuing black students. Another solution is removing remedial programs for challenging curricula and supports that are appropriate.

Over the summer, I went to the St. Norbert University for a campus tour and found that this statement was made aware to me by observing the college community. While one could argue St. Norbert is predominantly an “all white school,” However, the way I see it is that only a small majority of African American and other minority youths truly utilize the educational resources given to them.

Last night, I was sitting cross legged on my bed holding Chinese take out in my hand while watching the new episode of Orange Is The New Black, which premiered on Friday at 12 am, long past my bedtime. I was behind everyone else in the game, only on the second episode on the third day of its release. The second episode dealt with a lot of issues, aside from Piper being convinced she’s Litchfield’s new “gangsta”, that I related to on a personal level. I’ll try not to reveal too much, if you’re like me and still on the second episode, but the audience finally got an inside look on Maria, one of the girls from “Spanish Harlem’s”, back story. The audience learned that she struggled with her identity as the daughter of a Dominican drug dealer. I, for one, am nowhere near

“Black woman are raised to epitomize “strong black women” in the most exemplary fashion possible, and faithfully to remain one without pause or rest until the grim reaper relieved us of the burdens of our mortality. This is a slight exaggeration of course, but the point I am trying to make is that there is this notion that black women should have everything in order all the time. This is not always the case. Research shows that 72% of black children are born to single mothers. Black women also hold a large lead over black men in almost every facet of higher education. According to scholars, “black women currently earn about two-thirds of all African- American bachelors degree awards, 70% of all masters degree and more than 60% of all doctorates. Isn’t that ironic? Black women makes up majority of single parent homes, but also obtain the most degrees in higher education. However, there is not enough light being shun on the idea of black women being “super woman” also have a negative connotation. For example, the ratio of girls to boys at Hampton University are completely disproportionate. Hampton University is made up of approximately 70% girls and 30% males. I have surveyed 100 students regarding the aid that they are receiving. The 100 students were comprised of 50 males and 50 girls with stellar academia. More than half of the males stated they are receiving some scholarship to attend Hampton, and as for the females they are paying

As a testament to the next discussion point of opportunities, especially within the realm of college admission, I have experienced firsthand the opportunities presented by affirmative action. As a low-income, first-generation college student, Virginia Tech had offered me a full scholarship based solely on merit and financial need. As a “minority” according to Virginia Tech, I had an

If someone were to ask me to describe this class to them in a single word, I would say “interesting”. Although I wish one word descriptions were enough to truly describe anything (especially this class), but sadly there is a lot that can be said. I would tell the person that asked me, that this class will have you look at “Black” history in a whole new different way. You’ll learn about potential “new” authors, writers, poets, activists, and whole lot of other people that helped changed in some shape or form society in the United States. I would also tell them about all of the different readings that they will have to do, but that they will not feel like assigned work because

This country that we live in, the United States of America, has a reputation as being the "land of opportunity." Foreigners and native-born citizens regard this land as the pot of gold at the rainbow's end for those individuals who wish to make a life for themselves through hard work and perseverance. Yet for many minorities and economically disadvantaged people, the dream is unfulfilled because the educational opportunities that they need are unavailable. The universities are as unreachable as top- shelf merchandise in a warehouse without ladders or lifts. They are no less unwelcoming than heavy steel doors slamming shut in the face of a visitor. The selections from The Presence of Others: Voices that Call for