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Black Collegian News & Views HBCUs
Fight Perception of Inferiority
Second of two-part feature by Black College Wire
By Danielle Kwateng
Black College Wire
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Photo credit: UNCF
Most historically black colleges and universities are in the
South, as shown on this map of United Negro College Fund member
schools. |
It is a common notion among blacks that they must do twice the work
to achieve equal opportunities as white people. As one remedy,
affirmative action was created to give black people a fighting chance.
But even with affirmative action, there seems to be a disadvantage for
black students from
historically black colleges and universities.
As Dave Chappelle noted in one of his skits about a black man trying
to be hired by a white employer, many think potential employees should
"go back to Howard" after graduating.
According to the Department of Education, 14 percent of all black
college students attended HBCUs in 2003. This was the smallest
percentage of black students choosing HBCUs since their founding in the
19th century. There are
more than 100 HBCUs in 24 states, mainly in the South, enrolling
more than 350,000 African Americans annually. Before the 1964 Civil
Rights Act, 85 percent of all blacks who attended college went to HBCUs.
But in the past two decades, 12 of the schools have closed.
A Howard University might be well-known and accepted, but compared
with Ivy League schools such as Harvard or Yale, many think it doesn't
match up.
Faith Ohai, a junior public relations major at Howard, recalls a
conversation this summer.
"I was at a seminar with students from Harvard, Penn State, John
Hopkins, University of Maryland and Fordham University. We were talking
in a group discussing the rigor of our course work," Ohai said. "I told
them of my communication law class that I took and that despite its high
demands, I was able to earn an 'A' in the course. The girl from Penn
State was like, 'Oh well that's like a C at Penn.' I asked for
clarification because I was extremely puzzled," Ohai said.
"She explained how students at her school are told that the academic
grading at HBCUs is below the standards at other schools. The other
students chimed in and agreed."
Ohai added that an employee at Penn State joined in the conversation
and supported their point.
"Being the type that likes to debate, I posed the question: 'Is that
an assumption or something that was concluded from experience?'" Ohai
said.
Ohai explained that black institutions are not inferior. "I loathe
the remarks I get from my friends who chose to go to white majority
schools. They rationalize why they specifically chose not to go to an
HBCU and act like I can't get a good job if I graduate from an HBCU,"
she said.
"Government policy or not, what students need to look at is the
positive aspect. They need to think about where they can get in and make
an impact or just move on," Ohai said.
Morris Mann, an investment adviser in Washington and a 1994 Morehouse
College graduate, said it is an advantage to come from an HBCU.
"We need to look at the facts; not every industry is looking to hire
minorities, but the world is becoming more global and a lot of companies
understand that," Mann said. "It can even be an advantage to come from
an HBCU because companies are looking for diversity. Three main reasons
are because they need a different perspective, their clients may be from
a different ethnic background and they may know the excellent quality
from past experience with working with minorities."
Danielle Kwateng, a student at Howard
University, writes for the Hilltop.
Posted Oct. 16, 2006 |
