Why Going to an HBCU is Important Part II

 

This is an update to the original post I wrote in August of 2019:  

Let me first of all say, I am NOT a Stephen A. Smith fan.  I understand what he does and, perhaps, why he does it but I don't like his antics with all of the yelling and "I know it all" attitude.  I do, however, respect him a lot because I truly understand that to get where he is today has been no easy task.  He is to be applauded for that.  Another black man paving the way......

Today, I was watching First Take with Stephen A.  and Max Kellerman and I was rather moved by Stephen A's tribute to HBCUs.  I watched him do it last year but this time it was different.  It seemed more sincere.  LESS of Stephen A. and more about the HBCU he represents--Winston-Salem State University (WSSU).  I got to hear from students who went there and their reasons why---they ALL said the same thing:  They felt like they were a part of a family there and were nurtured in addition to being educated.  Their motto:  Earn to Learn, Depart to Serve.  That resonated so deeply with me because I never thought of my alma mater as very nurturing (as a matter of fact, it was just the opposite. At Ohio University, I felt like I was being thrown into the lion's den and had to fight daily to escape). I have no doubt I received a good education there but that's all it was.  I went out into the world to show everyone what a great school I went to.  OU did not encourage me, in any way, to go out and serve in the same way HBCU students are indoctrinated to do.  I have often wondered had I gone to an HBCU would I have had similar success in radio and television news?  Perhaps, I would've had even more.  But who knows.

I am so happy my daughter chose to go to an HBCU (North Carolina A&T University) even though I had my heart set on her going to my alma mater.  And I can honestly say right now I am excited to be affiliated with another HBCU--North Carolina Central University (NCCU), where I work part-time as a Writing Consultant--helping students find their unique voices through their writing. Their motto is:  Truth and Service.    It is a position I absolutely LOVE and it is my way way of giving back.  It is my way of nurturing young minds and being connected with a "family."   

Here are some other HBCU Facts you may not know:

60 percent of all Engineering degrees are earned by black students

70 percent of black dentists and physicians earned degrees from an HBCU

40 percent of blacks in Congress come from HBCU's

HBCU's  only have 1/8 of the average size of endowments that PWI's have

Cheyney University of PA was the first HBCU founded in 1837

In addition to Stephen A. Smith (WSSU), other celebrities attending HBCUs include Oprah Winfrey (Tennessee State), Samuel L. Jackson (Morehouse College), Taraji P. Henson (NC A&T/Howard University) and Chadwick Boseman, a.k.a "The Black Panther" (Howard University).

And there were many notable Black Scholars including:  Poet/Playwright Langston Hughes (Lincoln University),  Biologist Ernest Just (South Carolina State University) Mathematician and computer scientist Katherine Johnson (West Virginia State University), and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Colbert King (Howard University). 

These are just a few examples of what makes going to an HBCU so special.

Why Go to an HBCU?

Let me start off by saying I DID NOT attend a Historically Black College/University (HBCU).  Howard was my first choice but I wasn't accepted so I went to the school that offered me the most scholarship money (Ohio University).

This blog post is inspired by a recent conversation I had with the Founder of Students2Scholars.  This program is designed to help minority students in public schools apply to and, hopefully, get accepted into private schools in our area. (I am a part of her academic advising team). This article isn't written to criticize the Founder but rather to show how her thinking is a good example of what well-meaning white folks really don't know about us and how, even with their good hearts, they can get things twisted.

During a telephone conversation we somehow got on the subject of her volunteering to register students to vote at an HBCU----North Carolina Central University (NCCU), where I presently work as a Professional Writing Consultant.

Founder:  You know I always wondered why anyone would go to an HBCU.  I mean if you're going to spend $20K or more on tuition, wouldn't you think they would want to spend it on a big name college or university. There's better opportunities for networking and connecting for jobs after graduation.  (We call them PWI's:  Predominately White Institutions).

Me:  If you knew the history of HBCU's you would know they were created because blacks weren't allowed to go to the other schools.  In order to further our education, that was the only choice we had.

Founder:  Oh, I understand that.  But I have to tell you I changed my opinion when I went onto the campus.  I got such a feeling of camaraderie amongst the students.  There was a true sense of activism and community and not like anything I ever experienced at my own alma mater.

Me:  I totally agree.  In hindsight I wish I had gone to an HBCU. But would I have been afforded the same opportunities to advance my journalism career as I had by going to OU?  Probably not because back in the day getting a journalism degree from Ohio University carried a lot more weight in the professional world than a degree in broadcast journalism from any HBCU in the country.  I got my first job because the  Program Director of the radio station where I applied was willing to take a chance on me because he knew of the school's reputation for producing quality candidates and I was the first black to work there.

After a few more exchanges we ended the conversation but I hung up thinking how this woman was trying to do her part in making a difference in the lives of others but she really had no clue of our struggle and the hurdles we have to jump over constantly just to prove we are worthy of an opportunity. But she's not alone.  As she has shared with me, a number of her friends see what they are doing as a "charitable cause" to help us advance in an unfair system but at the end of the day she, and many like her, remain blind to the challenges we are always facing professionally AND socially.

This is the same woman who told me she thought racism had ended when Barack Obama became President.  I kid you not!

Here are some other HBCU Facts she probably doesn't know:

60 percent of all Engineering degrees are earned by black students

70 percent of black dentists and physicians earned degrees from an HBCU

40 percent of blacks in Congress come from HBCU's

HBCU's  only have 1/8 of the average size of endowments that PWI's have

Cheyney University of PA was the first HBCU founded in 1837.

Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey (Tennessee State), Samuel L. Jackson (Morehouse College), Taraji P. Henson (NC A&T/Howard University) and CHADWICK BOSEMAN, who graduated from Howard University in 1995 and went on to star in the Black Panther, which went on to become the top grossing superhero movie of all time!  (RIH)

These are just a few examples of what makes going to an HBCU so special.

I Survived the First Week of College

I've been reading quite a few blogs this week written by parents whose children have gone off to school for the first time. Many parents express sadness that their little ones are growing up and beginning to leave the nest.

On Monday, my daughter began her freshman year at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro. She's an "Aggie"---whatever that is. Her first class on Monday was at 8am---Math---a subject she not only hates but hasn't done well in since elementary school. She says it's remedial math so all of the students are on the same level---which she finds refreshing. But she did tell me she's starting out with a 4.0 average so I should be proud.

She's also taking some other courses that seem to have nothing to do with her major but that's how it seems to be for incoming freshmen. Get them acclimated to college life before you stick it to them in the classroom.

She called me every day this week to give me an update on her campus experience. The food in the cafeteria is terrible; there are parties EVERY night; she needs a computer; she hates walking everywhere and her room mate loves watching The History Channel.

Although she would never admit to being homesick, today's she's back home with her dirty laundry. (Since she has no car, I had to drive up to get her).

It looks like we both survived the first week.