Hbcu Studies

Thesis: HBCU’s are necessary for the future of democratic America because they better prepare African American students as individuals and for the workforce.

For almost two hundred years, Historically Black Colleges and Universities or HBCUs have played a pivotal role in the education of African-American people, and negro people internationally. These schools have provided the majority of black college graduates at the Graduate and Post-Graduate level; schools such as Hampton University, Morehouse University, Spellman University and Howard University are four universities at the forefront of the advanced education of blacks. For sometime there has been a discussion on whether or not these institutes should remain in existence or if they are just another form of racism. There were also concerning the quality of education provided at these institutions. In my opinion, from the evidence provided

The new generation of upcoming college scholars have been appearing to have a lot of debate over the criteria of an HBCU not being corresponding to a PWI. It is time to understand and be able to get involved with the debate about Historically Black College/University (HBCU) versus Predominantly White Institution (PWI). To proceed it is best to start with the definition of these terms because everyone needs to have knowledge when it comes to this subject. This subject also needs to be more than just a debate between students attending HBCUs and African Americans at PWIs. Quite shockingly, there are many out there that do not know what an HBCU is and if they do they think of these “black schools” as a form of racism. When it boils down to HBCU’s

In an effort to increase diversity in certain job fields and corporations, companies will primarily look at historically black colleges and universities first. At a finance panel at Howard University’s school of business, a black MIT grad stated how her twin sister, who attended Howard, got more job offers than she did. There is a misconception that historically black colleges and universities lack proper training and job preparation. This most likely stems from people still believing that only white people are capable of success or teaching other people success. HBCU’s provide opportunity to students who may not have been exposed to those opportunities’ otherwise. Looking at graduation rates at non HBCU’s, black students at PWI’s have a lower graduation rate compared to their white counterparts(npr.org). When it comes to diversity most people assume diversity in color but there are more ways for places to be diverse. There is a lack of diversity at PWI’s when it comes to race, culture, and most importantly socioeconomic

The purpose of this action is to strive for equivalent open doors for everyone paying little heed to race or skin color. Race has always been a controversial factor in the college admission process. Critics who are supportive of the action say that colleges reach out toward minorities since they are the least diverse in the college environment. With the demographic they display they are urged most of the time to apply for college admission. Often these institutions offer some help to those minorities such

HBCUs are institutions that were founded before 1964 where most were developed after the Civil War and are usually located in the former slave states with a small amount of notable exceptions. Today in the United States there are 107 HBCUs this includes public and private institutions, medical and law schools, and public and private institutions. Even thought a PWI does not discriminate other races in admissions what it can provide for an African American versus the African Americans that attend HBCUs is a drastic difference. HBCUs should be considered over PWIs because it allows African Americans to comfortably steer

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964. As amended by The Higher Education Act of 1965, a part B institution refers to any “Historically Black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of Black Americans, and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation.” Though in 1837 Cheyne University of Pennsylvania and 1854 Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) had been established for Black education, Black Colleges and Universities became recognized by the United States Government in the 1890’s.

They were made to give African Americans citizens rise to instructive opportunities. HBCUs are an imperative piece of American history due to the effect they had and now have on society. These foundations have permitted African Americans to have a chance to wind up fruitful, beneficial subjects. They have negated old generalizations that expressed that blacks were uninformed or not able to learn and accomplish like whites have. Truly, historically black colleges and universities have done superb things for the African American community. The presence of HBCU's is essential on the grounds that future eras can see what diligent work and commitment can fulfill. This is genuine in light of the fact that the greater part of these chronicled establishments were made to overcome and snag the kept African Americans from having the capacity to acquire the same training as whatever remains of America. These foundations are critical and stand as confirmation of their reasons. As with most colleges, too, there are pros and cons to attending an HBCU. I’ve known some students who missed the racial diversity that they had in high school so they transferred out of an HBCU, but there are also many who relished the support that an HBCU provided. I’ve also known African-American students who attended primarily white high schools and valued the chance that an

“Double consciousness describes the individual sensation of feeling as though your identity is divided into several parts, making it impossible to have one unified identity”(Understanding W.E.B DuBois, n.d.). This proposal was brought forth by W.E.B Bois. He believed that African American’s were struggling with these repressed feelings of not knowing who they are; they could not combine their African background with their now developed American identity. This concept was developed in 1903, but is still very relevant today; one may be able to relate the relevance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to this theory/ conclusion. At a Historically Black College or University, an individual has the ability to further their education. I decide to attend Virginia Union University to gain a better understanding of my history, to bond with others within the black community, and to profit from the HBCU experience.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were mostly founded shortly after slavery ended in the United States of America. Christopher Brown II and Trimika Yates (2005) stated HBCUs were “ established as formal education centers to educate freed blacks, these institutions began with curriculum that stressed basic reading and math, as well as agricultural and mechanical training.” From that time until the end of 1890 more that 200 schools arise throughout the United States of America, all established with goal of providing an education for freed blacks. This was a significant time in the history of the United States, while Blacks were freed, segregation was still socially acceptable, it took more than 100 years before laws were passed to address segregation in United States of America.

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES), there are 101 Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965 defines HBCUs as “…any historically Black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of Black Americans, and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary [of Education] to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation” (US Department of Education, 2017). It is important to note that unlike other Minority Serving Institutions, HBCUs, are only one of two types of institutions (Tribal Colleges & Universities or TCUs are the other) federally designated by law and therefore, cannot increase in number with an act of Congress (Li, 2007). In other words, every time an HBCU closes its doors, we get one step closer to the elimination of the historical and consequential institutions.

look around, and once again I'm in the minority'" (as quoted in Mangan, 2015). Students who attend HBCUs do so with the impression that they will be surrounded by a grand majority of black students, professors, culture and history. Most HBCU students do not enter their first day of college expecting to see a significant amount of racial diversity on campus, however, due to shifts in HBCUs, a significant amount of racial diversity is exactly what they encounter. This causes HBCUs to lose their identity of being historically black. For example, a student at Delaware State University states "I don't really think of Del State as a historically black college, even though it is, because it's so diverse" (as quoted in Madeline, 2015). This is a great

I wish I could say it still surprises me when I mentioned to people that I attended an HBCU (Historically Black College/University), some of them have no idea they exist. Often, it turns into a conversation starter, which usually evolves into a meaningful educational moment about the history of HBCU’s. However, occasionally I find myself becoming frustrated when ask the question “why” in a way that questions the validity and or need for HBCU’s in 2016. As a student at Hampton University I did not fully realize the impact it would have on me, but looking back, it is clear to me that those experiences have shaped who I’ve grown into today, and strongly influence to my desire to pursue a career in environmental science education.

For blacks, the history of higher education typically points to segregated education. Before the Civil War, the social system promoted the belief that blacks wouldn’t get return on their time spent in higher education. Brown and Ricard (2007) noted that most North institutions were reluctant to allow black enrollment in colleges and universities, and in the South, where slaveholder’s were still powerhouse businessmen, slaves would never be allowed to become more educated than their owners. The reluctance of the White leaders to allow blacks to formally be accepted into higher education programs held blacks back from achieving what many aspired to, and were fully capable of, experience.

HBCUs can at earliest be dated back to before the Civil War, when the majority of colleges wouldn’t admit African American students on the premise of their race alone These schools were created specifically for the education of African Americans due to the fact that while some states had educational facilities open to all in the North and West, most of the South had segregated systems that forbade the admittance of African Americans. In 1890, the Agricultural College Act was passed, requiring segregated states to create a separate land grant