Historically Black Colleges and Universities have played an important role in our nation’s history. Established during an era of legal segregation for the purpose of educating Black Americans, their roots in progressive politics and community activism have put them at the center of the racial justice movement.
There are just over 100 HBCU across the country, yet they enroll 10% of all Black students and produce almost 20% of Black graduates.
HBCUs have produced many thought leaders and notable celebrities over the years, including Oprah Winfrey and vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris. With the recent resurgence of Black Lives Matter and racial justice movements, HBCU have also played a key role in organizing and educating others about important race-related issues.
But HCBUs don’t just talk the talk; they walk the walk. In these uncertain times, here are just a few ways the HBCU community is leading by example.
- The presidents of two HCBUs announced they had participated in a vaccine trial for COVID-19 after scientists encouraged people of color to participate in coronavirus research.
- Florida A&M alumni recently raised more than $450,000 for scholarships and academic development.
- This year Morgan State University was designated as one of only eight early voting sites in Baltimore, Maryland. This designation encourages people of color to participate politically and in early voting.
- At Texas Southern University this fall, alumni launched a Back to School Campaign to raise money for tuition, books and COVID-19 expenses for students in need.
In addition to their strong social justice bent, HBCUs outperform non-HBCU peer institutions in graduating successful Black professionals in a number of fields including science, technology, and engineering. Studies also show that Black HBCU graduates are better prepared for life after college and are more engaged at work than their non-HBCU counterparts.
RecDiv is an online job platform that connects employers with diverse talent from HBCU and provides career resources for students and alumni.
