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The historical importance of the HBCU to African Americans
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Historically black colleges and universities were started as a way to educate African American’s, when predominantly white institutions were denying them entrance. For decades it has been heavily debated whether these institutions are still needed and whether they provide quality education. In Atlanta, a state senator has proposed an idea to merge two black colleges to two state Universities in the area, saying that the merger would help to close a $2 billion deficit, and close a very difficult chapter in Georgia’s past where the civil rights movement is concerned.
Although white students are attending these black colleges in record numbers, this proposal is taking a lot of heat because experts are reporting that black students, who wouldn’t normally attend college at all, are attending black Universities and more importantly, black students are more likely to drop out of school at a predominantly white institution rather than an HBCU.
Throughout the years many of the private historically black colleges have ceased to exist, never before has a state institution been taken over. Ideas like these have been proposed in other states in the south as well and have also been heavily debated, for instance, in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, it was proposed that Elizabeth City State University change its name to UNC Elizabeth City to attract more funding, and display that they are a part of the University of North Carolina school system, this school was founded in 1891. UNC Pembroke changed its name 13 years ago, and their enrollment
has more than doubled. A question some of you might be asking is, what’s in a name?
There is certainly lack of funding going to these black institutions, but the main concern of those mentioned in the article is the fear that an enumeration of historical identity would be lost once the merger went into place. Many are arguing that fiscally, it would be a wise thing to do- but ideas ring strong in the minds of those who believe in the historical legacy behind the way those Universities were founded and the contributions to the civil rights movement that many of their former students made: sitting at lunch counters, marching and even dying for equal rights. What do you all think, political or personal?
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