In recognition of the month, this week's blog post is about Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), a distinctive feature of American higher education and a point pride for African Americans. HBCUs were established before and after the American Civil War to ensure African Americans had the access to higher education that they might otherwise be denied. The Higher Education Act of 1965 defined the 105 HBCUs in the United States as any college or university established prior to 1964 whose main mission was to educate black Americans, and were accredited or were making strides toward being accredited.
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| Class Picture, Howard University, Washington, D.C. c. 1900. Howard University |
The 105 recognized HBCUs in the United States have produced famous African-American leaders such as Thurgood Marshall, Dr. Martin Luther King, and W.E.B. Dubois. More recent graduates include rapper and actor Common, Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison, and civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson.
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| Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. (aka "Common,") graduated from Florida A&M University with a degree in business administration. Huffington Post. |
Though their primary mission is to serve black Americans, HBCUs offer admission to all students regardless of race. HBCUs today attract many non-African American students, and, increasingly, international students. There are several advantages to studying at HBCUs, including possibly lower tuition rates and smaller class sizes, and exposure to diverse classmates and ideas on campus. Top-ranked HBCUs include Spelman College, Morehouse College, Howard University, Fisk University, and Tuskegee University.
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| Founded in 1881, Spelman College holds the distinction of being America's oldest historically black college for women. Here, Spelman College graduates stand with President Beverly Tatum. Spelman College. |
