Historically Black Colleges and Universites Give Separate but Equal Education...or Not

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

In each year from 1998 through 2000 there was a 1%-point decline in the graduation rate for black men. But for the past 4 years the graduation rate for black men increase by a 1% point and now stand at a 35%. This year the college graduation rate for black women rose by one percentage point to 46%. With many years of hard work African American thrive for a better education ignoring the statistic that states that 9.6% of African American would drop out of high school. African American prove that they can achieve and will achieve.

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

HBCUs are more sensitive to the various cultures and encourage students to associate and learn about the different nationalities and cultures. HBCUs faculty and administration tends to offer more encouragement and support for students having difficulty; they help these students to reach their full academic potential. “In 1992, Walter Allen reported that black students who attend HBCUs have better academic performance, greater social involvement, and higher occupational aspirations than black students who attend PWIs. On black campuses students emphasize feelings of engagement, extensive support, acceptance, encouragement, and connection. Allen also found that HBCUs communicate to black students that it is safe to take the risks associated with intellectual growth and

“Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs, have played an important role in enriching the lives of not just African Americans, but our entire country.”(Keller) What Ric Keller states here is an opinion that outlines a compelling fact about HBCUs that along with several other significant information that may come as a surprise. Essentially, the great debate between the choice of whether an Historically Black College and University or Predominantly White Institution is more beneficial or not can become a pondering interrogation. Each acronym defines itself, Historically Black Colleges and Universities(HBCUs) were established by the means of providing an education for predominantly African American students. Whereas, Predominantly White Intuitions(PWI) serve to instruct and educated the opposite or in other words those of Caucasian descent.

Marybeth Gasman and Ufuoma Abiola’s article Colorism Within the Historically Black Colleges and Universities it investigates the significant of color prejudice at HBCUs. This article examines the origins, manifestations and damaging results of colorism on black college campuses. In this article the authors are trying to find a way to solve the problem of colorism at HBCUs and create an environment where students can be success regardless of whether they are dark skin or light skin. After they do this they offer recommendations for future research.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs, have played an important role in enriching the lives of not just African Americans, but our entire country.”(Keller) What Ric Keller states here is an opinion that outlines a compelling fact about HBCUs that along with several other significant information that may come as a surprise. Essentially, the great debate between the choice of whether a Historically Black College and University or Predominantly White Institution is more beneficial or not can become a pondering interrogation. Each acronym defines itself, Historically Black Colleges and Universities(HBCUs) were established by the means of providing an education for predominantly African American students. Whereas, Predominantly White Intuitions(PWI) serve to instruct and educated the opposite or in other words those of Caucasian descent.

The entire HBCU experience is entirely different than that of other public or private colleges that are predominantly white. While HBCUs represent only 3% of the nation’s institutions of higher learning they enroll 16% of African Americans at the under-graduate level and award nearly one-fifth of

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

While attending a Virginia Union University, I am able to further my education while gaining a better understanding of my history. HBCU’s emerged at the conclusion of the Civil War. The constant debate on the importance of educating African Americans was at its peak. Whether it was industrial or liberal education, former slaves knew that it was a vital skill to obtain. Although the government passed the Morrill Act in 1862, providing each state with a facility for higher learning, African Americans were not able to attend these white facilities. It was

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.

To understand the significance of these institutions one must understand the context in which these institutions were established. In the most basic sense, HBCUs were established because of racism (Evans, Evans, & Evans, 2002). Prior to the Civil War, few universities espoused the mission and goal of training and education Black people (Albritton, 2012).

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.

In today 's world where the population, especially of the United States, is growing gloriously diverse, institutions of higher education must also reflect this aspect in their student body. The purpose of colleges and universities is to provide students with the education and experience they need to succeed after graduating as well as expand their thoughts and perspectives. Thus, they must create and maintain a similar environment in which students will live and work in the future. Although diversity has been emphasized as a priority for many schools, socioeconomic diversity is often disregarded. However, socioeconomic diversity plays an important role in developing the perspectives and minds of students. Thus, it is essential for the admission offices, especially of prestigious universities like the University of Pennsylvania, to recruit and admit more economically disadvantaged students as well as for the schools to meet the needs of and maintain those students.