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Black Collegian News & Views Views
of HBCUs Change as Mainstream Accepts More Blacks
First of two-part feature by Black College Wire
By Danielle Kwateng
Black College Wire
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Photo credit: Howard Law School
Its law school is evidence of how much Howard University's
mission has changed from its original vision as a theological
seminary. |
When members of the First Congressional Society of Washington first
sat down and thought of establishing a theological seminary for blacks,
they could not have imagined what it would become.
Approved for charter by President Andrew Johnson in 1867, the mission
of Howard University quickly changed to a
vision of a "University for the education of youth in the liberal
arts and sciences and other departments."
Now, more than 130 years later, it embodies intellectual development
and innovation for the world. Many students know its history and its
successful graduates, but tend to forget the impact of Howard's
presence.
Howard was built when the country was in a state of unrest and still
felt divided from the Civil War.
"Originally whites thought, 'We don't want them in our colleges so
we'll set up something for them, but give them less funding'," said
Emory Tolbert, a professor in the history department.
"The tradition of racism is to degrade and make all things 'black'
inferior. But HBCUs were specifically created for the advancement of
African Americans, and now, years later, alumni send their sons and
daughters to them," Tolbert said.
Bill Maxwell, writing in the St. Petersburg Times, reported that
HBCUs have produced the bulk of today's black middle class: 30 percent
of blacks who hold doctorates, 35 percent of black lawyers, 50 percent
of black engineers, 65 percent of black physicians.
Maxwell also cited research that found, "Professors encourage
spirited exchange of subject matter, ideas, beliefs and opinions during
class discussions at HBCU's."
The president of LeMoyne-Owen College in Nashville, James Wingate,
agreed.
"Giving the underprepared student a chance to be nurtured, taught,
coached, cajoled and encouraged ultimately to the point that they
achieve and go on into the workforce and contribute to the gross
national product -- that's what it's really all about. It's not that
other colleges can't do that. It's that HBCUs do it better," Wingate
said.
Marymount University sophomore Loren Hulen called the atmosphere at
Howard lively.
"I applied to Howard University and was accepted; however, Marymount
accepted me first and I decided a smaller school would probably be
better for me. It's funny; I've been to Howard at night and it's kind of
strange to see people still walking around on the Yard at 10 at night.
Ten p.m. at Marymount, and everyone is in their rooms. The campus looks
empty," Hulen said.
"At Marymount, many people keep to themselves and sometimes it can
feel like high school, because it can get very 'clique-ish.' Howard's
campus always has something going on . . . it almost makes me happy I
went to MU. If I went to Howard, I would get too distracted," Hulen
said.
Marc Lamont Hill, author and professor at Temple University, recently
wrote about the issues HBCUs are facing. The first challenge he cited
was expanding opportunities for African Americans at Ivy League schools.
"Beginning with the 1960s cohort of affirmative action students,
large numbers of black students were able to bypass the HBCU and
matriculate directly into the White mainstream. Whereas scholars like
Cornel West and Henry Louis Gates were able to enroll as undergraduates
at Harvard and Yale University, their intellectual heroes and mentors
had no such luxury." W.E.B. Du Bois "had to attend Fisk before obtaining
a Ph.D. at Harvard," Hill
said.
Hill also contended that HBCUs play a different role today.
"Whereas previous generations saw an HBCU degree as a badge of honor
and community solidarity, many of today's students and parents see the
black college as a secondary or tertiary alternative to Ivy League
universities and elite liberal arts colleges. While this is partly due
to the ever-expanding bourgeoisie sensibilities of the black middle
class, it is also directly connected to the increased corporatization of
higher education," Hill wrote.
For Elysia Ross, a junior pre-pharmacy major at Howard, there was no
other choice. "Despite all the statistics and what others think, I love
Howard. There was no other option for me, not because I wasn't qualified
but because my heart was here," she said. "Just look at the history, it
says it all."
Danielle Kwateng, a student at Howard
University, writes for the Hilltop.
Posted Oct. 16, 2006 |
