It is difficult to be a person of color in the United States today. And things stand to get worse unless drastic and strategic action is taken. While such action may be difficult to achieve it can be done through a three-part plan of action. First, the African American and Hispanic communities must unite and act as a collective body to combat all threats to the community. Second, after re-instating this sense of community, it must be passed on to future generations. And third, this sense of community must be reiterated at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s) by weaving this value into the curriculum. History has proven there is strength in numbers. The more people supporting a cause the more successful it will be. Classic examples are the Civil Rights Movement, and World War II. Imagine Martin Luther King marching on Washington alone, or only China fighting the axis powers. It wouldn’t work. In both situation participants identified a threat and combined forces to defeat it. Had they not done so, surely the course of history would have drastically changed for the worse. In the same way, African Americans and Hispanics must unite to save their communities. The next question is how can this be done in such a divided community? The answer is, this sense of community must become a priority for the African American and Hispanic communities. The older generation must plant the seed by passing this sense of community to younger generations. Once African Americans and Hispanics value their community more they will understand the importance of voting and a community effort as a means to get better schools, and better public facilities. We know this will work because its been successful in gated communities, where residents pay higher home owner’s fees to establish and fund schools, day care services and public facilities. The problem with this theory is it does not account for renters and non-resident owners. Which is why the commitment to pay higher home owner’s fees should be written into deeds as a covenant, and into leases as a condition of the lease, with renters paying a lower fee than homeowners. There is no doubt white America has an advantage over African Americans and Hispanics when it comes to everything. For example, more African Americans and Hispanics are born into impoverished communities than whites. Also, more African Americans and Hispanics choose a life of crime thinking it will lead to a better life. Reasons for this are numerous, but researches believe African Americans resort to crime because they don’t know a better life is possible outside of it. Others need to see people that look like them become successful to know its possible. HBCU’s help by showing African Americans and Hispanics a better way. Also by creating a network of black professionals. However unless HBCU’s reiterate the importance of family in the curriculum, their work is only half complete. Such a grave task cannot be achieved without financial support. Which is why HBCU’s must seek corporate sponsorships. Corporations are always seeking to diversify and donate money considering many receive tax breaks because of their donations. HBCU’s should use the money to improve the quality of education by building better facilities and hiring better teachers. Once this is done more alumni will want to support the schools. Then HBCU’s can give more back to the community, through opening soup kitchens, offering discounted english as a second language classes, encourage a community forum, and maybe even offering discounted day care or after-school programs.
