The Role of HBCUs in American Society Essay

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

“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.

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

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.

“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.

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

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.

It is getting old hearing about what historically black colleges do wrong. Continuously hearing about what historically black colleges cannot do and what predominantly white institutions can. Hearing the phrase “HBCU” only to be followed by a negative comment. Mainly black colleges are needed for African Americans who were unaccepted for their race or undereducated about their history, but with such an adverse light on historically black colleges, it makes you think. Why are HBCU’s so necessary to save for survival and for the future?

When people hear about these types of universities they assume that only blacks attend the school. In all actuality, the colleges allow any race to attend the schools. The disadvatages of going to a HBCU is its environment. The blacks would be surronded by other African Americans but in the real world poeple will not be the same race as them. It closes the student network so they will only be able to work for black companies.

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.

Historically Black College Universities (HBCU) have been attracting African American people for years with their high quality education, great history, and amazing band. However, over time the requirements have changed to attend. HBCU’s are colleges that can relate to the african american students, help them grow as individuals, and become more knowledgeable about their culture. HBCU’s are predominantly black schools, but in the recent years the schools have integrated. Now that these schools are becoming more diverse, it gives the school no unique quality. HBCU’s should become a part of the state university system, due to the ways they are conforming to the ways of other colleges.

Throughout history America had a struggle against slavery and racism. After fighting for independence and freedom, America in current times is now free and mostly free of racism. Although “Affirmative Action” has caused some trouble due to the fact that people are claiming this process is racist and should not be used as a factor of getting into college. Affirmative Action is discrimination against assisting racial minorities in school admissions, hiring contracting in financial aid. (Sacks & Thiel) During times of less diversity and more stereotypes, institutes and other educational programs used Affirmative Action as a way to eliminate requests and choose the best person that qualifies. (Sacks & Thiel) Affirmative Action is no longer necessary because Affirmative Action uses race and not the advantages or disadvantages that people have, which may be unconstitutional and as well as illegal. (Ncsl) Without Affirmative Action students may use their “merit” scores as a factor of their acceptance (Sacks & Thiel) Lastly Affirmative Action is no longer needed because it increases racial tension. (Top 10)

My own belief is that affirmative action is a broken system. It not longer serves the purpose it was once intended to and instead of helping those who are truly disadvantaged it is hurting them. Affirmative Action might seem like a justifiable thing in some aspects, but the real problem is the lower level education systems. In a system where only four-percent of black students are prepared for university level science courses. The most obvious solution is that we need more funding for education so that schools can actually provide the quality of education needed for students to actually be able succeed in higher level education courses. It is also important to note that forcing kids into college is not the answer. Nowadays parents, students,

Affirmative action should not be used in colleges because it is reverse discrimination. The article Race Matters Taqee Vernon says, “ African Americans were oppressed, first by slavery and then by racial discrimination. So using race as a factor in college admissions, he says, is only fair ” (Liptak.) African Americans may have been discriminated in the past, but if affirmative action is used, it will be reverse discrimination towards whites. If this happens, it will be a repeat of what happened in years past. President John F Kennedy said, “ It has since come to refer to policies intended to compensate for the effects of past discrimination” (Liptak). In the past, African Americans were discriminated because of their race. They had to use different bathrooms, water fountains, and go to different schools. Many people believe this was unfair however, they want to do the same thing by using affirmative action for college admission. This quote is saying that because blacks were discriminated in the past, to make up for it

Affirmative action should not be used in colleges because it is reverse discrimination. The article Race Matters Taqee Vernon says, “ African americans were oppressed, first by slavery and then by racial discrimination. So using race as a factor in college admissions, he says, is only fair ” (Liptak.) African Americans may have been discriminated in the past but, if affirmative action is used, it will be reverse discrimination towards whites. If this happens, it will be a repeat of what happened in years past. President John F Kennedy said, “ It has since come to refer to policies intended to compensate for the effects of past discrimination” (Liptak). In the past, african americans were discriminated because of their race. They had to use different bathrooms, water fountains, and go to different schools. Many people believe this was unfair however, they want to do the same thing by using affirmative action for college admission. This quote is saying that because blacks were discriminated in the past, to make up for it