Essay on Historical Trends at American Colleges and Universities

Today, the United States of America is a very racially and religiously diverse society. We saw the seeds of diversity being sown in the early days of colonization when the Chesapeake and New England colonies grew into distinctive societies. Even though both regions were primarily English, they had similarities as well as striking differences. The differentiating characteristics among the Chesapeake and New England colonies developed due to geography, religion, and motives for colonial expansion.

During the age of reconstruction, the freedman’s bureau launched the opening of up to 1000 schools for African American children presiding in the south. An assortment of north- sponsored colleges made for African

During slavery, most black slaves were denied proper education and many laws were passed in the South prohibiting slave literacy. Even free blacks in the century before and after the Civil War were limited in their access to quality education and career training.

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.

This allowed blacks to be able to read and write which allowed them to understand the world. White slaveowners had originally not taught slaves fearing that they would gain too much knowledge and possibly question and challenge their authority. The education they were allowed to have proved that blacks had rights compared to the rights that existed during slavery. During Reconstruction, blacks were truly free proven by the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, their right to run for office, and the Freedmen’s Bureau which gave them rights to

The U.S. Department of Education’s Digest of Education Statistics (2010) compiles data on educational trends and statistics in the United States. According to the digest, in 2009 African Americans earned about 10 percent of all bachelor degrees awarded. Furthermore, about 20 percent of African Americans currently hold a college degree. When compared to the same rates for the white non-hispanic population, African Americans are largely lagging behind. The challenges that African Americans are facing must be met by post secondary institutions if this group is going to continue on the path of economic and career prosperity. This need is discussed in the report Minorities in Higher Education:

In the essay, "People Like us" by the author, David Brooks, the main focus is the diversity in America. The United states has a label as being a country that is very diverse. Our country has many different types of ethnic groups, religions, personalities, interest, etc. so in that case, you really can justify the United states as diverse. Brooks mostly uses logic in his essay to prove that, once you look at the United States with a more magnified view, you might realize that technicalities come into play and change the previous statement to, unfortunately, the complete opposite, a corrupt society with no diversity.

Since the first slaves arrived in America in 1619, to Jamestown, Virginia in order to harvest tobacco , African Americans have been faced with many oppressions and have faced a long fight for freedom. After the abolishment of slavery due to the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865, formally the 13th Amendment, lead to the Reconstruction Era. The Reconstruction Era brought great hope for African Americans. This brought some change, many schools were establish and blacks were elected into public offices. This period became known as the “Negro Rule” Era, unfortunately, their progress was short lived.

First American Colleges - 4 out of 6 by 1763 were started by religious groups, but the scientific notions from Enlightenment could be felt; Harvard established by Puritans 1636; 1693 William and Mary College in Williamsburg Virginia by Anglicans; Yale in1701 by Congregationalists in New Haven Connecticut to combat against Harvard's growing liberalism; Princeton in New Jersey (w/ one of first presidents as John Edwards); 1754 in New York founded by Anglican but very devoted to secular knowledge; University of Pennsylvania 1755 completely secular by laymen under inspiration of Ben Franklin; all offered secular programs such as physics geometry astronomy rhetoric

America has long been a multicultural and multiracial society. As a result of European immigration in the early 1900s,

Education has always been valued in the African American community. During slavery freed slaves and those held captive, organized to educate themselves. After emancipation the value of education became even more important to ex-slaves, as it was their emblem of freedom and a means to full participation in American Society (Newby & Tyack, 1971). During this time many schools for African Americans were both founded and maintained by African Americans. African Americans continued to provide education throughout their own communities well into the 1930’s (Green, McIntosh, Cook-Morales, & Robinson-Zanartu, 2005). The atmosphere of these schools resembled a family. The

The United States has not been as diverse as it is today. It started with hundreds of Native American tribes most of whom were later killed when Europeans arrived from England, settled in, and colonized American territory. Those Native Americans who survived were forced to relocate and often assimilate to European culture and its effects continue to live on today. Later, other Europeans including the French, Dutch, Spanish, Irish, Swedish, and German brought their language, religion, and political structures with them to America which created the foundation for modern American culture. Africans also voluntarily settled in

The United States is one of, if not the most, diverse nations in the world. It is often described as a

The United States, created by blending or melting many cultures together into one common man, known as an American. Modern communication and transportation accelerate mass migrations from one continent . . . to the United States (Schlesinger 21). Ethnic and racial diversity was bound to happen in the American society. As immigration began to explode, . . . a cult of ethnicity erupted both between non-Anglo whites and among nonwhite minorities. (22).

Diversity has broad ranges of spectrums. Students from all across the continent; students from political refugees, indigenous Americans, and immigrants bring their culture and linguistic skills to American classrooms. Students do not only bring their cultures and linguistic skills, but they bring their ethnics, talents, and skills. In addition, their age and gender are two