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Sunday, October 17, 2010
Are HBCUs still relevant?
I was talking to a good friend of mine and we were conversing about some of society issues and we sort of stumbled on this topic- what is the relevance of HBCUs. He mentioned conversations he had with non-blacks and was baffled at how they did not understand the purpose of HBCUs then or now. This made me think because I understood the reasoning for having HBCUs 30 or 40 years ago, it made perfectly good sense, but today I'm scratching my head pondering- Are HBCUs still today relevant? History teaches us the intial reason for establishing HBCUs was to give opportunities to those blacks who were barred from predomintantely white instutions due to their race an equal chance to an education. Successfully, HBCUs have done exactly that. According to the U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights office, HBCUs accounted for more than 80% of blacks with degrees in medicine and denistry, 75% of blacks with PhDs., 80 % of blacks holding federal judgeships positions, and 50 % of black faculty members teaching at traditionally white insitutions. But what about today? Now we live in this Post Civil Rights era where education is more accessible now than ever. Today obtaining an education is very possible at any higher learning instution-even at America's top illustrious ivy league universities. So what's the primitive reason today for keeping HBCUs around if the intial reason does not exist any longer? I am a product of an HBCU-Hampton University to be exact and I even ask myself that question because hypothetically speaking I could have easily chosen a predominately white instution over an HBCU and recieved the exact same type of education if not a better one at that predominately white instution. However, I chose an HBCU because I knew very little about HBCUs and I thought it would be a unique experience. My education at Hampton will always be this intangible experience that I couldn't get anywhere else beside an HBCU, but that's my reasoning for attending an HBCU. Now if you think about it today more than ever, HBCU are now competiting to recruit their own majority- blacks and minorities because predominately white institutions are in need to diversify their schools. As a matter fact white instutions are now almost depserately reaching out to minorities offering competitive financial aid packages-even full ride scholarships, along with state of the art facilities, and technology and resources for its students compared to none. According to a recent economic news report released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the perecentage rate of blacks attending college increased to 68.7 % from the 68.6 % attending college last year. The marginal growth is good news, but the number of blacks attending HBCUs declined. According to the South Regional Education Board, the number of blacks attending HBCUs dropped 7%. Doesn't that seem like the choice of attending a predomintately school for minorities like HBCUs is becoming more of a thing in the past for blacks and minorities and doesn't have the impact on the African American/minority community it once had? How do you feel that more blacks/minorities are choosing to go to school, but bypassing an HBCU as an option? On Feburary 26, 2010 President Obama signed an exceutive order renewing the White House Initiative on HBCUs. As African Americans and or minorities are we suppose to see and cherish HBCUs as a source of accomplishment and great pride for the African American Community as well as the entire nation? Please share your thoughts...Are HBCUs still relevant?
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So, I went to an HBCU and I am now in graduate school at the #1 University for my profession. My graduate school is predominantly white.. Not only that but I am one of three African American Males that were recruited to the school. So I have share experiences of being apart of the majority and minorty. In regards to being apart of the majority at my respective HBCU, I do cherish my HBCU experience and I do believe it is still relevant. I think what is important about my HBCU experience is that it gave me a sense of reality in that the very people I interact with everyday are the same people who are my competitors. I will compete for the one or two spots given to minorities and I think that my university did an amazing job of instilling that within the students. I would not have gotten that at a predominantly white institution and I would have been in for a rude awakening. Additionally, I also believe the maintenance of a community of predominantly minorities, in particular,African Americans is beneficial to the sustainability of our communities in that it gives African Americans a sense of pride, companionship, and appreciation of their history. It enables us as African Americans to feel comfortable with our identities and use our minority status to not be an agent of oppression and a member of the target group, but rather an agent of change and progression. What we see in the media and what is maintained in our society in regards to Black America is nowhere near positive. HBCU's today are being used as a tool and platform for African Americans to change the perceptions of what Black America consists of. I wouldnt change my HBCU experience nor would I suggest that I could have received a better education. My HBCU education has opened doors and allowed me to educate those who have not understood black culture and all that it consists of. People are still in the mindset that racism is a thing of the past and dismiss the struggle of minorities in present day society. I didnt come across that at my HBCU, however, I have encountered that plenty of times in my predominantly white institution. Im not saying that it doesnt exist, but based on my experience, there are people who are completely oblivious to the existence of racism because they dont have to think about race as a factor when they apply for jobs. Period. So I find myself educating and really shedding light to various aspects of the reality of black culture and the community to the white students who really have no clue of what goes on in the black community... and basically go off hear say... My HBCU experience has helped me embrace my identity in being a Proud Black Man in America and use my identity to open closed minds in efforts to change the skewed perceptions society holds against African American and minority communities. So to answer your question, HBCU's are necessary in present day America
Yes HBCU's are very much relevant and I am not saying that because I attend one (Texas Southern University). I chose TSU because I did not attend a traditional and historic black high school and I wanted to get the HBCU experience. Also I felt I would have more in common with my classmates. Second, we can't turn our back on our HBCU's because at one time black colleges are all we had to receive higher education. As for as the decline in African American students choosing non black schools; I see nothing wrong with that either because your career will not be an all black environment.I believe students choose other schools because they would like to be well rounded with other race of people. As for myself, the institutions I am considering for graduate school aren't HBCU's for the simple fact that I believe you shouldn't limit yourself to one group of people. Not saying that you will not be any more or less being around one group of individuals but I believer jobs want you to be well rounded with others.
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