HBCU Students,
Alumni Debate Relevance of HBCUs
By Crystal Tate
Source: TheHilltopOnline.com
Issue: 03/05/04
Today, more than 100 Historically Black Colleges or Universities
(HBCUs) exist in the United States. Now that African Americans
can attend predominantly white institutions and affirmative action
exists, many students question whether they are still necessary.
HBCUs were originally founded to provide African Americans with
the opportunity to further their education and attain better jobs.
All HBCUs were founded before 1964 with the purpose of educating
African Americans.
"I feel that HBCUs are some of the most important institutions
in the African American community. HBCUs allow young African Americans
a chance to develop their academic and social skills in an environment
that provides a warm touch while aptly preparing them for the
future," Mario Calhoun, graduate of Grambling State University,
told the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.
Many feel that HBCUs are relevant today because many students
want to have the "black experience." Others believe
that they are given more opportunities at HBCUs and have a greater
chance of being recruited for a job.
"I feel that I have a better chance of being recruited here
at Howard than I would if I went to a predominantly white school,"
sophomore finance major Chantel Napier said. "When companies
come to Howard, they are looking specifically for blacks. That
is one of the main reasons I chose Howard."
Some students believe that HBCUs are more affordable and like
having primarily African American professors.
Angel Branhan, a transfer journalism student at Hampton University,
said, "I feel like I am at home. My friends are like my siblings
and my professors are like my parents. I transferred from Michigan
State University, a predominantly white school, and there is definitely
a big difference. At Michigan State, I was just another student.
At Hampton, a warm, friendly and familiar environment exists."
Other students believe that HBCUs are places to learn about their
culture and African American history.
"I have a new understanding of my existence and culture,"
Sharon Stanley, a psychology major at Delaware State University,
said. "The many events held teach me more about my people."
One opponent of HBCUs, Andre Adams, a senior finance major at
North Carolina State University, believes HBCUs are irrelevant
because of funding problems and lack of "real world"
experience.
"Due to the lack of resources and problems affecting HBCUs,
I feel that if HBCUs do not tap into the alumni or other sources
for funding, or provide remedies for the problems they face. They
are not doing their job," Adams said. "African Americans
at HBCUs do not experience the world outside of their comfort
zones. At predominantly white schools, African Americans can be
around others from their own culture through student unions or
organizations and experience the real world at the same time."
Despite varying opinions on the necessity of HBCUs today, many,
such as Reed Tuckson, M.D., Senior Vice President of Consumer
Health and Medical Care Advancement at UnitedHealth Group of Minneapolis,
Minn. feel that they remain an important part of African American
history and culture.
At the Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership
Institute held June 2003 at the Medical University of South Carolina,
Tuckson said, "Our ancestors founded HBCUs by finding a way
out of no way. Back then, there was no question what HBCUs were
all about. The fate of these institutions now lies with us."
He added, "We don't need HBCUs to survive because we need
more museums; we need them to thrive and prosper because we need
scholarship and learning in the African American community."
