“The best way to hide something from Black people is to put it in a book!” This hurtful racist quote has continuously been repeated at Claflin University as a sense of motivation and inspiration. Historical Black Colleges and Universities have given millions of individuals the opportunity to break this generation old thought of ignorance. With 103 public and private institutes, Historically Black Colleges and Universities have changed history while continuing to brighten the future for African Americans. Until the 13th Amendment abolished slavery, the thought of education was unimaginable by African Americans. Since the late 1800, the history of African Americans has changed from the working field-hand to successful world-renowned individuals. HBCU’s have offered the chance to learn about our past roots and the important parts that are left out of most history books. Historical Black Colleges and Universities have a relevant purpose in their teachings as they educate this generation and generations to come on varies hardships that African Americans have had to overcome for their respect. African Americans have contributed numerously to the growth of America without recognition for their inventions and educational milestones. Educating African American people like; Booker T. Washington, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Oprah Winfrey, Sean P. Diddy Combs, Yolanda Adams, and Ruben Studdard, to name a few! These accomplished individuals are respected because of their timeless contributions to the African American race and to America as a whole. Their countless efforts to uplift and motivate African Americans to attend college, has helped to move our race into a higher economic standing. With years of credibility and reverence, HBCU’s have proven to have a significant purpose in today’s society. Although my goals of success and higher education could have been received from a BigTen multi-racial college; I decided to embark on the journey that many successful African Americans have taken. Growing up in a predominately Caucasian area in Indiana, I’ve learned some of the greatest lessons of life while on a campus with a majority of African Americans. While attending Claflin University I have gained abundance of mind-boggling information; from how to make it in corporate America, to saving, to dressing, and networking which in turn will preparing me for the different companies that hire Claflin graduates. The experience at an HBCU will always be one of my greatest memories as well as the foundation to my dreams. With a legacy of preserving the past and enriching the future, Historical Black Colleges and Universities are the essence of our being!
