The Tradition of Academic Excellence in the African-American Community by William H. Gray, III

The value placed on education in the African-American community is finally reaping rewards in higher education. Over the last three decades, African Americans have made significant strides in higher education. The United States Bureau of Census recently released statistics showing record-high percentages of African Americans completing high school, enrolling in college, and receiving degrees. This is a totally different picture than that offered by the media, paid lecturers and authors, Black and white, who have bombarded Americans with messages of African American educational dysfunctionality, poor scoring on standardized tests, and opposition to educational excellence because it is somehow "acting White."

The Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute of the United Negro College Fund released the historic trend of rapid educational gains for African Americans four years ago, long before any government source. The Patterson Institute published the first-ever African American Education Data Book in three volumes in 1997, showing dramatic increases since the 1970s in higher education access and success for African Americans. The Data Book clearly documented that the growth of African-American men and women in higher education has outpaced that of white men and women over the past three decades. Data produced by the Patterson Research Institute shows that between 1976 and 1997:

· Undergraduate enrollment of African-American men increased by 21%.
· Undergraduate enrollment of African-American women increased by 68%.
· Graduate enrollment of African-American men increased by 34%. 
· Graduate enrollment of African-American women increased by 91%.
· Professional school enrollment of African-American men increased by 27%.
· Professional school enrollment of African-American women increased by 209%.
· Bachelor's degrees awarded to African-American men increased by 30%.
· Bachelor's degrees awarded to African-American women increased by 77%.
· Professional degrees awarded to African-American men increased by 22%.
· Professional degrees awarded to African -American women increased by 288%.

Admittedly, although these figures are encouraging, African Americans still have a long way to go since the base lines were so low. African Americans have come from 8% of all students enrolled in college in 1970 to 11% of students enrolled today. This is great progress, but still below the 12% of the American population and 14.5% of the college-age population that African Americans represent. The goal for the African-American community should be "over-representation" in higher education and in every discipline!

What are the reasons for this significant progress? If we are to continue this progress to equal and hopefully "over representation," then we must understand clearly the reasons for the progress.

First, these strides have not occurred by magic or some extraterrestrial intervention. The gains are attributable largely to the African-American community and its grass roots efforts. Black folks have always understood and stressed the importance of education. Even when it was illegal to teach them the basics of reading and writing during slavery, or when they had to walk miles to attend second-class schools during segregation, the record shows that Black folks took advantage of every opportunity even in a society that mandated compulsory ignorance by law and practice. Education was the way out and up!

Great African-American scholars emerged despite the barriers and became role models and symbols of hope. Edward Bouchet was one of the first {African}Americans to receive a Ph.D. in physics from Yale University in 1876, just 15 years after the first Ph.D. was awarded at Yale in 1861. W.E.B. DuBois received his Ph.D. in history from Harvard University in 1895, after studying at the University of Berlin. George Washington Carver earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in agriculture from Iowa State in 1896. Ernest E. Just, a zoologist and physiologist, earned his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1916. Sadie Alexander from the University of Pennsylvania became the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D., and the first American woman to receive a doctorate in economics.

There were also presidents and faculty of Historically Black Colleges and Universities who created a long tradition of academic excellence. Benjamin Mays received his bachelor's degree from Bates and then a master's and doctorate from Chicago before leading Morehouse College. Before Dr. Mays, there were people like Mary McLeod Bethune, Frederick Patterson, and my father, William H. Gray, Jr. After growing up in the inner city of Philadelphia, my father went to Bluefield State College in West Virginia (HBCU), the University of Pennsylvania for a master's degree in chemistry, and later a Ph.D. in education (1941).

They all overcame incredible odds and barriers to succeed academically, but they laid the foundations for Johnetta Cole, Ph.D. anthropology; Ruth Simmons, Ph.D., romance languages; Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Ph.D., English language; and Condoleezza Rice, Ph.D., political science. These scholars were all supported by their families, churches, fraternities, sororities, civil rights groups, community groups and political groups in the African-American community with encouragement and financial resources.

Secondly, the advances of African Americans in higher education are also due to the dismantling of the historic barriers that prevented African Americans from participating in higher education. These barriers were brought down by pressures from the African-American community, changes in public policy, and new college admissions policies. We must remember that segregation did not end until the 1960s and admissions policies did not begin to change dramatically until the 1970s. College admission policies were designed to exclude African Americans, but these policies have been affirmative and inclusive over the last three decades for African Americans and other minorities.

Thirdly, financing higher education has also been a major barrier to college for African Americans. While the need has not been fully met, there has been substantial growth in the federal funds and private support to help finance a college education. The Pell Grant, government student loans, state loan and finance agencies, and family loan programs have all helped to create greater access for African Americans. At the same time there has been a dramatic increase in private support. In 1999, Bill and Melinda Gates made the largest contribution to college scholarships in history with the establishment of the $1 billion Gates Millennium Scholarship Program. The mission of GMSP is to provide poor (Pell Grant eligible), but high achieving African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans with an opportunity to receive a college education. African-American philanthropy is also strong. African- American churches, fraternities and sororities, and professional groups all provide millions of dollars each year to African-American youngsters who strive to pursue a college degree. Leading the charge also are new, wealthy African Americans like Bill and Camille Cosby, Oprah Winfrey, Spike Lee, John and Eunice Johnson of Johnson Publishing Company, and Bob Johnson of BET who are all giving significant money to support African Americans in higher education. Others like Lou Rawls, Magic Johnson and Bryant Gumbel have raised millions for scholarships for African-American students.

As a result of the increased private philanthropy, the United Negro College Fund has been able to offer our 39 member private historically Black colleges and universities and their students increasing financial support and scholarship funds year after year. Our programs also include scholarships and other opportunities for students nationwide. Today, the UNCF manages more than 450 different scholarship programs, which provide students with scholarships, internships, research opportunities and study abroad experiences...for a full listing go to www.uncf.org. UNCF has helped to graduate over 300,000 men and women, and currently supports over 60,000 students at UNCF member institutions and other colleges and universities.

Finally, gains in the higher education participation of African Americans are not just good for African-American families and communities - they are good for the nation. There is a great and growing demand for skilled workers in the current high-tech, information age in which we live. The census report already shows that we are going through a demographic revolution where minorities increasingly will make up the American workforce at all levels. Bottom line, the better educated the minority population, the more productive and prosperous the country will become.

It is vital that African-American progress in higher education continues and increases in order to achieve representation that is at least equal to our representation in society. It is important also to maintain our educational excellence in order to combat the popular myths that African-American culture does not value education, or that it is anti-intellectual, or labels educational achievement as "acting white." The evidence of our educational status and progress thus far - despite overwhelming odds against us -- ought to put these fallacies to rest, but you and I know that it will not and that the struggle continues. Thus, each of you, every African-American college student today, must excel in school and encourage those that follow to carry on. Because achieving academic excellence is acting Black!

William H. Gray, III, is the president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund, Inc.