Historically Black Colleges and Universities
1. History of HBCU’s
Historically Black Colleges and Universities serve a distinct purpose. These educational institutions were started prior to 1964 and were implemented to serve black communities.
2. United Negro College Fund Research
-Over 50% of all African American professionals are graduates of HBCUs
-90% of African Americans pursuing Doctorate degrees are HBCU graduates
These two facts alone place African-Americans in position as professionals across disciplines.
3. HBCU’s Prominent Graduate List (UNCF)
-Debbie Allen- choreographer, director (Howard)
-Ossie Davis- actor (Howard)
-Lynn Whitfield- actress (Howard)
-Phylicia Rashad- actress (Howard)
-Sharon Pratt Kelly- DC mayor (Howard)
-Shirley Franklin- Atlanta mayor (Howard)
-Toni Morrison
-Sean “P.Diddy” Combs- founder and CEO of Bad Boy Entertainment (Howard)
-Common- actor, hip hop artist (Florida A&M University)
-Rosa Parks- civil rights icon (Alabama State)
-Alex Haley- author (Alcorn State)
-Steve McNair- NFL quarterback (Alcorn State)
-Michael Clark Duncan- actor (Alcorn State)
-A. Phillip Randolph- civil rights activist (Bethune Cookman College)
-Mary McLeod
The impressive list above crosses genres and time lines. Mary McCloud Bethune founded Bethune Cookman College with pennies and Sean Puffy Combs used the same determination to become a Hip-Hop mogul empowering youth globally to go after their dreams.
4. HBCU’s Prepare Students for the Real World
Alumni return annually to Southern Classic Football games that have rock star appeal in support of their alma mater. HBCU Alumni who believe in the schools mission and purpose write checks and encourage their offspring to attend the same campus. The same pride found in generations of Ivy league halls is on the grounds of HBCU’s. It is said that attending an HBCU as an undergrad and becoming grounded in black literature and deeper cultural understanding prepares one better for the graduate experience at a Top Ten or Ivy League institution.
5. Funding an HBCU Experience
The cost of attending a HBCU is moderately-high. Many programs depend on the financial support of alumni and that support depends on many factors most notably, the economy. The successful student is persistent and cretive while looking for funding. FASFA is a good starting point.
