by Calvin Lovick
I bristle every time I hear someone question the relevancy of HBCUs. Truthfully, I get downright angry about it. Historically Black Colleges and Universities are vital to the landscape of higher education in the United States, and for anyone to suggest otherwise proves he or she is ignorant to the facts. Before I go on, I must mention U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who in February while speaking to HBCU presidents and chancellors in Washington, D.C. said, “HBCUs are real pioneers when it comes to school choice. They are living proof that when more options are provided to students, they are afforded greater access and greater equality. Their success has shown that more options help students flourish.” I trust that unlike our Education Secretary, everybody reading this knows HBCUs were established because African-Americans had no choice in the matter. Simply put, majority institutions would not allow us to attend their schools.
But back to the issue of relevancy. Historically black colleges and universities have produced three-fourths of all African Americans with Ph.D.’s, three fourths of all African-American officers in the U.S. Armed Forces and four-fifths of all African American federal judges. HBCUs are the leading institutions in awarding baccalaureate degrees to African-American students in the life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics and engineering. Moreover, 50 percent of African American faculty at majority research institutions received their bachelor’s degrees from an HBCU.
Notable HBCU graduates include Mary McLeod Bethune, educator and founder of Bethune-Cookman University (formerly Bethune Cookman College) in Daytona Beach, Florida; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Leontyne Price; Dr. Charles Drew, a physician and medical researcher; Patricia Harris, former HUD Secretary and Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare; Astronaut Ronald E. McNair; Oprah Winfrey; and Thurgood Marshall. For the record, I would gladly match the brilliance and accomplishments of those Continued from page 6 PUBLISHER’S PAGE RELEVANCY OF HBCUs eight people against that of anyone from any majority institution of higher learning. I know, sadly, some HBCUs have closed their doors in recent years. I also know in some states – can you say North Carolina – there have been attempts at legislation that would, in essence, result in the closing of even more HBCUs. I pray those efforts are met with the same resistance that African Americans and people of other races exhibited during the Civil Rights struggles of the 60’s. Whether you like it or not, this country needs its historically black colleges and universities. And while I was glad to see Trump administration officials reach out to HBCU presidents and chancellors in February, I wish the meeting had yielded more positive results – not to mention more money – for HBCUs. Keep keeping on, HBCUs!
