Racial Discrimination In African American Universities

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.

As an African-American male attending a predominantly white institution (PWI) of higher learning, I, at times, had to overcome several obstacles—from a lack of connectedness to being the victim of occasional microaggressions, there was a clear dichotomy that could not be ignored. I instantly felt a sense of empathy with Canada’s experiences at Bowdoin College. From the text, “[e]ach year, the same pattern repeated—a few more black students would be admitted, they would find Bowdoin alienating and white and oppressive, and they would demand that the administration admit more African American students” (2009). While I would argue that I don’t live in an area that could be considered tantamount to the Civil Rights era, there are pieces of this piece of the text that I can relate to. Frankly, there is something off-putting about attending an institution that was not designed or developed for your people. Throughout this chapter of the book, Canada made it clear that he did not feel connected with his college. At my undergraduate institution, I had many of the same sentiments as Canada. While it was certainly a lot more diverse than Bowdoin, I, like Canada, found myself having to actively and aggressively seek out opportunities to engage in opportunities with people who look like me—joining clubs and organizations and networking in various professional

Born February 23, 1868 as William Edward Burghardt Dubois in Great Bannington Massachusetts, W.E.B Dubois was one of the greatest sociologist and protest leaders in history (BIO., 2013). After earning a degree at Fisk, Dubois earned a bachelor’s degree at Harvard, and later became the first African-American to earn a PhD from Harvard. Dubois contributed many articles about race, such as his dissertation “The Suppression of the African Slave-Trade to the United States of America”, “The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study”, and “The Souls of Black Folk (BIO., 2013).

“The Black Studies Program: Strategy and Structure” was published Fall of 1972 in The Jounal of Negro Education. It’s contents are a relection on the years before when colleges and universitys were allowing African Americans to attend , but did not provide curriculum about or for African Americans.

While L, Patton; B, Bridges; L, Flowers’s 2011 article EFFECTS OF GREEK AFFILIATION ON AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS' ENGAGEMENT, discusses that African American organizations presence on campus. Have exposed great leadership, entrepreneurship, encouraged academic achievement and promoted community service. The organizations, believe that if their

The concept of race based admission policy is used in colleges to create diversity in campuses, but to some it is another kind of discrimination. According to Stacy Teicher Khadaroo staff writer of “A sticky week for college admissions as affirmative action debate heats up; After a leaked Justice Department document, tensions roil over the use of race at top universities such as Harvard. But many other selective schools may be quietly shifting away from the practice,” top colleges uphold the same commitment to create diversity and using race in admission to accomplish it instead of merit or income. Nonetheless, Department of Justice spokeswomen, Sarah Isgur Flores, is willing to investigate the effects of affirmative action, "The posting

Money in the form of tuition, government funding, and personal donations allow institutions to fund programs and ultimately make the college experience enjoyable to current as well as prospective students. Historically black colleges lack both the government funding, personal donations which makes it much harder for them to appeal to students. Due to lack of funding, many HBCUs are dated facilities, lack scholarship opportunities and offer fewer programs for students looking to apply. Many HBCUs have loss accreditation in a number of programs with contributes to the decline of enrollment and furthermore a loss of potential revenue. However, regardless of the harsh reality many of these colleges are facing, their impact on society and most importantly in the black community is one that can not be refuted. Some of the country’s most influential people are products of an HBCU education. The question should not whether or not HBCUs should cease to exist but instead how can the be fixed and brought back to

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

In terms of student social organizations, students who join predominantly White fraternities eliminate opportunities to experience diversity and thus continue to associate with students of their own likeness (DeStantis 19). Without inclusion of diversity, predominantly White fraternities illicitly promote discrimination against diversity to favor social hierarchical power that is reinforced through the societal promotion of White privilege.

Imagine being a student of low economic status that has always dreamed of going to a world renowned university but the stench of racism still looms at the well-known college. The racism displayed at this university is undeniable and very visible which in result scares away many diverse students. Colleges claim to be diverse but with the lack of minorities due to the recognizable racism issues and problems this proposes an important matter. Racism at The University of Mississippi can be solved by raising awareness of racial problems and also the increase of mandatory diversity classes.

America’s higher education system has an interesting history. It has advanced substantially since it was established. Unfortunately, its beginnings were based on slavery and cultural genocide. Craig Steven Wilder’s book Ebony and Ivy gives insight into the intriguing beginning of America’s colleges. Wilder focuses mostly on the impact and treatment of both the Native Americans and African Americans within the beginnings of colonial universities, but within these statements, one can see how dramatically the American college system developed in these early years. The book has excellent reviews. In an article posted on December 1, 2014 the African American Review states, “Ebony and Ivy will change the way we think about knowledge-creation at America’s universities…Craig Wilder’s masterly work will stand the test of time and should be required reading for college students across America.” In a Washington Post article published in 2014, Carson Byrd says, “Ebony & Ivy is a meticulously argued work and a valuable resource for multiple disciplines. It strongly connects slavery, science, and higher education to explain how racism is built into the foundation of our colleges and universities. A few of these connections are described below.”

Around September, high school seniors everywhere begin applying to colleges. This is usually a stressful time, writing essays, deciding what to major in, picturing where to live for the next four years. Besides being stressful mentally, college applications puts stress on wallets. Money is spent on standardized tests, application fees and college visits, and of course on the university itself. Students try to put their best foot forward in order to get into the college of their dreams. They work hard to offer something to colleges that other students do not have. Some students already have an advantage compared to others. They were born with this advantage, and obtained it without having to do anything at all. This is called privilege. Because of their race, caucasian students have a higher advantage for college acceptance compared to students of color. Privilege is currently the direct cause for underrepresentation of minorities that enter into college. These students are at a disadvantage, making it more difficult for them to receive acceptance from the college of their choice.

Since the beginning of the American Civil War, the black discrimination and persecution problem has become a controversial issue. Some argue that the legal soundness and the awareness of the equality make huge breakthrough of the black discrimination issue, while others propose that the violence action towards the black still exists in the society . Although both the book “To kill a mockingbird” and the research article agree that the discrimination phenomenon should be prevented , the book pays attention to the fact that the black should employs the societal power to fight against the violence and inequality, while the movement “Black lives matter” advocated that the black should form a collective group, relying on themselves to fight for the victory.

It is now over a century and a half since President Abraham Lincoln took the courageous step of issuing the emancipation proclamation that essentially laid the foundation for the freeing of African-Americans from slavery. Since then, African-Americans have been engaged in a never-ending struggle to effectively appropriate this hard fought freedom. The election of Barack Obama into the highest office of the United States is perhaps a significant enough achievement that speaks volumes of just how far African-Americans have come. However, a closer look at Americas social, economic and political fabric reveals a grim truth – that close to two centuries after gaining their freedom, African-Americans are still discriminated based on their racial identity. Of course the amount and form of discrimination is quite different from the total oppression of the slavery years, but still, for many African-Americans, it appears as though very little has changed. From housing to education to employment, African-Americans face numerous challenges that further taint the sacred values contemplated by the founding fathers of America. This essay takes a critical view at racial discrimination in schools with respect to African-American students.

Affirmative action is a policy that favors certain groups of people that suffer from discrimination, especially in applying for college. The most prevalent cases appear mostly in the elite colleges that have far more applicants than spots available for students. Due to the discriminating aspects of these programs, they should not be considered in the application process because they violate the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by separating certain groups of people in our society. Although the goals of these policies may be with positive intentions, the programs limit the rights of those not included under the system