Florida’s Black Junior Colleges
After the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision of 1954, the legislature of Florida, with support from various counties, opened eleven serving the African-American population. Their purpose was to show that education was working in Florida. Prior to this, there had been only one junior college in Florida serving African Americans, Booker T. Washington Junior College, in Pensacola, founded in 1949. The new ones, with their year of founding, were:
The new junior colleges began as extensions of black high schools. They used the same facilities and often the same faculty. Some built their own buildings after a few years. After the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 mandated an end to school segregation, the colleges were all abruptly closed. Only a fraction of the students and faculty were able to transfer to the previously all-white junior colleges, where they found, at best, an indifferent reception.
Starting in 2001, directors of libraries of several HBCUs began discussions about ways to pool their resources and work collaboratively. In 2003, this partnership was formalized as the HBCU Library Alliance, “a consortium that supports the collaboration of information professionals dedicated to providing an array of resources designed to strengthen historically black colleges and Universities and their constituents.”
Historically Black Colleges In Florida
The first African American colleges emerged in the 1830s and aimed to provide an education for liberated slaves. These colleges were formed by the initiatives of various entities, including Quaker philanthropists, African American religious philanthropists, northern religious mission societies and African Americans who sought an education. To date, more than 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities exist in the United States, providing African American students with an education, community and heritage.
Why Did The Us Need Hbcus
Historically black colleges and universities, commonly called HBCUs, were created to provide higher education to disenfranchised African Americans in the United States, who were otherwise prohibited from attending most colleges.
The first and oldest HBCU, Cheyney University, was founded in 1837 in Pennsylvania. At the time, Blacks were not allowed to attend most colleges and postsecondary institutions, as a result of slavery and segregation.
Under the 1965 Higher Education Act, HBCUs were officially defined as institutions of higher learning that were accredited and established before 1964. The act allocated federal grants and funding to those colleges and universities.
These institutions would become largely responsible for the black middle class composed of doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers and other professionals.
HBCUs continue to produce black celebrities, professionals, and leaders.
The two oldest HBCU medical schools Meharry Medical College and Howard University are responsible for more than 80% of African American doctors and dentists practicing in the US today, according to the US Department of Education.
Notable African American alum – like Senator Kamala Harris – aren’t far and few. The long list of successful African Americans who attended HBCUs include civil rights leader Martin Luther King, the first African American US Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, media mogul Oprah Winfrey and director Spike Lee – to name a few.
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The Nation’s First Black College
While some free African Americans attended predominantly white colleges in the North during the antebellum era, educational opportunities in the South were rare. A Quaker philanthropist, Richard Humphreys, founded the nations first black college, the Institute for Colored Youth in Philadelphia, in 1837. This teacher training college, which became known as Cheyney University, initially furnished only elementary and high school level courses.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hbcus
HBCUs date back to the 19th century, when many offered Black students an opportunity for higher education. Today, HBCUs continue to serve a vital role in higher education.
In the wake of emancipation, many Black Americans founded HBCUs to educate Black students. During the segregation era, HBCUs offered one of the only paths to a college degree for Black students.
Historically, HBCUs enrolled primarily Black students. However, today non-Black students make up nearly a quarter of HBCU enrollment.
After the Civil Rights movement, HBCUs continued to offer Black students a supportive, inclusive environment. Today, HBCUs graduate a high number of Black STEM majors.
You can find most of the 101 HBCUs in the Southern states. Around half of these HBCUs operate as private schools, while the half are public institutions.
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A Brief History Of Historically Black Colleges And Universities
- M.S.Ed, Secondary Education, St. John’s University
- M.F.A., Creative Writing, City College of New York
- B.A., English, City College of New York
Historically Black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education established with the purpose of providing training and education to Black people. When the Institute for Colored Youth was established in 1837, its purpose was to teach Black people skills necessary to be competitive in the 19th-century job market. Students learned to read, write, basic math skills, mechanics and agriculture. In later years, the Institute for Colored Youth was a training ground for educators. Other institutions followed with the mission of training freed African American men and women.
It is important to note that several religious institutions such as the African Methodist Episcopal Church , United Church of Christ, Presbyterian and American Baptist provided funding to establish many schools.
The Story Of Historically Black Colleges In The Us
When Kamala Harris, one of the early frontrunners for the 2020 Democratic nomination, talked about the importance of the university she attended, she shone a spotlight on historically black colleges and universities .
“When the federal government gives attention to HBCUs we end up having a profound impact on black people in America,” said the California senator, when asked about her alma mater, Howard University, in an interview following the launch of her presidential bid.
HBCUs like Howard, one of the top ranked and most well known historically black universities in the country, are recognised around the globe.
Dr Gracie Lawson-Borders, dean of Howard’s school of communications, says that for a lot of the students “this opportunity to be accepted at Howard, at Bennett or at any HBCU is just a part of their growing war chest of preparation to make a difference in this world”.
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What Is An Hbcu
HBCUs began with the Higher Education Act of 1965. It was passed and defined an HBCU as being any historically black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of black Americans, and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation.
The South established most HBCU colleges after the Civil War. However, some existed prior.
Hbcus Played Crucial Role In Establishing Educational Needs For Black Americans
Prior to the Civil War, there was not a structured higher education system for Black students. Public policy and certain provisions prohibited the education of Blacks in various parts of the nation, which is why historically Black colleges and universities were so important.
The first higher education institution for Blacks called The Institute For Colored Youth was founded in Cheyney, Pennsylvania in 1837, making it the first historically Black college and university. It was followed by two other Black institutions — Lincoln University in Pennsylvania in 1854 and Wilberforce University in Ohio in 1856.
Although these were called universities or institutes from their founding, According to the U.S. Department of Education, a major part of their mission in the early years was to provide elementary and secondary schooling for students who had no previous education. It was not until the early 1900s that HBCUs began to offer courses and programs at the postsecondary level.
HBCUs have played a historical role in enhancing equal educational opportunity for all students. By 1953, more than 32,000 students were enrolled in well known HBCUs like Fisk University, Hampton Institute, Howard University and Morehouse College.
Today, there are 107 HBCUs, with nine in Texas. St. Philips College is the only HBCU in San Antonio.
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Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania: The First Hbcu To Award College Degrees
Founded in 1854, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania is only a few miles north of the Mason-Dixon line. LU has the distinction of being the first degree-granting HBCU in the United States it was a groundbreaking concept at the time of its inception, and it will continue to be a symbol of pride for African-American scholars.
The Development Of Hbcus Academic And Social Experiences At Hbcus Conclusion
Historically black colleges and universities are institutions that were established prior to 1964 with the mission to educate black Americans. Perhaps one of the greatest struggles faced by blacks in the United States has been the struggle to be educated. This struggle has been guided by the philosophies of black scholars who believed that without struggle there was no progress black revolutionists who believed that education was the passport to the future and black clergy who sermonized that without vision the people would perish. Education is now, and always has been, a vital weapon in the black arsenal. Essentially, black Americans used education as their primary source of ammunition in the fight against a segregated society, racism, illiteracy, and poverty. The steadfast desire of the black population to be educated influenced the development of HBCUs, and HBCUs have likewise contributed much to the advancement of the black population.
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Why Have Hbcus Been In The News Recently
Bennett College, founded in 1873, made headlines in recent months after the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges voted to revoke its accreditation due to financial instability.
The university was then faced with a task of raising $5m by February or permanently closing its doors, leaving only its legacy. Bennett College launched the campaign #StandWithBennett and surpassed their goal by February, raising more than $8.5m.
Bennett College is one of 101 HBCUs, but its struggle to maintain accreditation is not unprecedented.
While some HBCUs continue to thrive, others struggle risk accreditation and enrolment. In fact, five have closed completely since 1989.
Lincoln University And Wilberforce University
Founded in 1854 by an act of the Pennsylvania legislature, the Ashmun Institute offered a higher education in the arts and sciences to male African Americans. In honor of President Abraham Lincoln, the institution was renamed Lincoln University in 1866. Located in Chester County, Lincoln has educated about 10 percent of the African American lawyers and 20 percent of the African American doctors in the U.S., according to the PBS website. Known as the first black college with an African American president, Wilberforce University was founded in 1856 in Ohio. Playing a notable part in the Underground Railroad, Wilberforce views education as the route to freedom.
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Top 10 Historically Black Colleges And Universities
FAMU was founded as the State Normal College for Colored Students in 1887, and began classes with 15 students and two instructors. The university enrolls nearly 10,000 students from more than 70 countries, including several African and Caribbean nations. FAMU is the largest among historically black colleges and universities in the state of Florida.
The university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees through its School of Agriculture and Food Sciences. Fields of study include agribusiness, plant science, entomology and soil and water. FAMU also offers 10 bachelor’s degree teaching concentrations through its College of Education, and 13 specialized graduate degree programs through its College of Engineering.
According to the university’s 2010-20 Strategic Plan, FAMU strives to ‘become a top producer’ of African American graduates with degrees in law, health and science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, and to maintain a diverse and inclusive campus atmosphere. FAMU has launched numerous programs to build economic growth and partnerships in Florida, such as the Sustainability Institute and the Center for Viticulture and Small Fruit Research.
Photo: Ebyabe / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
Photo: Bw2217a / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
Bowie State enrolled roughly 6,100 students in Fall 2017, and 82% of the student body is African American. The university also boasts a relatively low student-to-faculty ratio of 17.5-to-1.
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Academic And Social Experiences At Hbcus
The literature on higher education is scant in the area of HBCUs. These institutions did not become the subject of research studies until the early 1970s. However, researchers have learned a considerable amount about the academic and social experiences of students who attend HBCUs. In 1992, Walter Allen reported that black students who attend HBCUs have better academic performance, greater social involvement, and higher occupational aspirations than black students who attend PWIs. On black campuses students emphasize feelings of engagement, extensive support, acceptance, encouragement, and connection. Allen also found that HBCUs communicate to black students that it is safe to take the risks associated with intellectual growth and development.
Whats The Difference Between Historically Black Colleges And Universities And Predominantly Black Colleges
Historically black colleges and universities, while similar in student demographics, have entirely different charters. Predominantly black colleges, also known as predominantly black institutions are defined by the Higher Education Act of 2008 as:
- Enroll at least 1,000 undergraduates
- At least 50% of applicants must be at least of low-income or first-generation undergraduate degree seekers
- Enroll at least 40% black students
- Have a low per full-time undergraduate student expenditure when compared with similar insitutions offering similar coursework
Predominantly black colleges have an integrated student population while historically black colleges and universities focus on recruiting African-American students . Predominantly black institutions also focus on providing education to underprivileged black students, while HBCUs may have more elite admission requirements that suit their desired student body.
When taking a look at the HBCU list of schools and admission requirements, it becomes quickly apparent that admission requirements tend to be as stringent as an integrated school. The list of predominantly black colleges with more relaxed admission requirements is much longer than the HCBU list. However, the list of predominantly black colleges is bigger than the HBCU list due to changes in attitudes towards race.
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Explore The Best Historically Black Colleges And Universities In The United States Based On Data Collected By Times Higher Education And The Wall Street Journal
Historically black colleges and universities are a unique feature of the higher education landscape in the US. They are found mostly in the Southern States.
HBCUs were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to provide higher education for the African American community. This was because, before 1964, African Americans were not permitted to study in the majority of schools.
Today, while the students attending HCBUs are predominantly African American, diversity in student bodies has increased over time, with white, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander and Native American students making up a fifth of the population at HBCUs.
Many HBCUs are private liberal arts universities.
Here is a rundown of all the best HBCUs based on data collected for the THE/WSJ US College Rankings 2021.
The First Of Its Kind
On February 25, 1837, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania became the nations first Historically Black College and University . The University was established through the bequest of Richard Humphreys, a Quaker philanthropist who bequeathed $10,000 one-tenth of his estate to design and establish a school to educate people of African descent and prepare them as teachers.
First known as the African Institute, the school was soon renamed the Institute for Colored Youth. In its early years, it provided training in trades and agriculture, which were the predominant skills needed in the general economy.
In 1902, the Institute was relocated to George Cheyneys farm, a 275-acre property just 25 miles west of Philadelphia. The name Cheyney became associated with the school in 1913, though the schools official name changed several times during the 20th century.
As a charter member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education , Cheyney State College became Cheyney University of Pennsylvania in 1983, the oldest of the fourteen member institutions and the only HBCU in the state system.
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