Historically black colleges have much to offer
By JASON ALSTON, Daily Dispatch Writer
Last year black conservative University of California regent Ward Connerly made several malicious statements about historically black universities, saying that the institutions are "directly opposed to the diversity ideal."
Connerly went on to say that a historically black college or university's (HBCU) "entire reason for being is not to be diverse."
As blackpressUSA.com editor George Curry explained in a January article, Connerly's statements were entirely inaccurate. On average, there are more white students and faculty at HBCUs than there are black students and faculty at predominantly white colleges in the nation. HBCUs only make up 3 percent of the 3,688 institutions of higher learning in this country, and 85 percent of black college students attend predominantly white colleges.
Based on the numbers, HBCUs celebrate diversity just as much as other schools. HBCUs are also clearly not an obstacle to any predominantly white university's quest for diversity, contrary to statements by Connerly, who said: "HBCUs, by their very nature, draw away many black students who would otherwise attend racially mixed schools and affect their 'diversity.' "
Connerly's belief that HBCUs are obsolete and irrelevant should not only offend blacks and alumni of HBCUs, but also any North Carolina taxpayer. There are five publicly supported HBCUs in the UNC system: North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, Fayetteville State, Elizabeth City State and Winston-Salem State. Those institutions are no less valuable to our state than schools such as Western Carolina and UNC-Wilmington.
Connerly's statements, however, illustrate a common perception that HBCUs are inferior to predominantly white schools. I recently sat down with two former HBCU students who now attend UNC-Wilmington to discuss their experiences and opinions on this issue.
According to Maya Jackson, a Durham native and former N.C. A&T student, the learning experience at an HBCU seemed more "realistic." Jackson believes that her professors at A&T were more willing to tell the truth about tough topics such as discrimination and poverty.
Joi Heggins, a former Clark-Atlanta University student, added that being at an HBCU helped her to view issues from an African-American standpoint. Heggins said the media and the history books tell only half the story, and the educational experience at UNCW relies on the books and the media for the whole story.
In addition to being disappointed with the one-sidedness of some of the curriculum, Heggins also takes issue with the indifference of some UNCW faculty members. At Clark-Atlanta, Heggins said, professors truly disciplined and corrected their students and would even put them on the spot if they were not on task.
Many black UNCW professors, she said, are virtually invisible and removed from the student body, including blacks. Many black students at UNCW don't know the black professors in their discipline.
"I would think (black faculty) would want to have our backs since there aren't many of us here," Heggins said.
Heggins said she was able to build working relationships with professors at Clark-Atlanta.
Another issue Heggins and Jackson chose to address is the apparent misconception that career prospects are brighter for students, particularly black students, at predominantly white schools.
At an HBCU, "there are more businesses at career fairs because they seek competent minorities," Jackson said. At UNCW, "it's like a joke of a career fair."
Jackson has seen top-notch companies recruiting students at HBCUs in North Carolina and said she doesn't find the same at UNCW. Heggins, who is in business school, said she has seen active recruiting for talented students at career fairs sponsored by UNCW's business school, but those fairs aren't open to students in other disciplines.
Both ladies cite the campus social climate as the biggest difference between their former schools and UNCW. Jackson described many of the black students at UNCW as "lost" and said many of them don't realize what white students say about them behind their backs.
Jackson has seen from classroom discussions and interaction with white students at UNCW that many white students are dismissive of black students and look down on them. Jackson also has seen evidence that some white students at UNCW are fearful of her and other blacks or won't acknowledge their presence. At A&T, which is about 5 percent white, the reverse was never true, Jackson said; white students were accepted and respected and never feared.
Heggins said that having to endure racism at a predominantly white university can make or break minority students. But she noted that real-world professional settings are diverse, and minorities must be equipped to confront prejudice and be able to communicate with people of all backgrounds.
Jackson went on to state that there is virtually no identity or cultural tradition at UNCW. Offering homecoming week as an example, Jackson said that at A&T there would be widely publicized functions such as dances, step shows, contests, marching band performances and celebrity appearances. In comparison, she described UNCW's homecoming festivities as "immature," perhaps including small raffles in addition to selections from the school's pep band at the game.
UNCW does hold a step show during homecoming week, but UNCW's own Greek chapters do not compete in the show.
Jackson said homecomings at A&T and other HBCUs draw crowds from the community and other schools, making the events fun. At UNCW, "some students and much of the community doesn't even know it when it's homecoming week."
Both girls said the campus environment at UNCW isn't conducive to fun or recreation, particularly for minority students. But also said that part of the problem lies with the black students at UNCW.
"It's nothing to say, 'Hey,' " said Heggins, who said black students at UNCW often won't acknowledge one another. "It's only a few of us here, so let's work together."
Jackson agreed, adding that the black organizations at UNCW, such as the Black Student Union, the NAACP and the school's historically black Greek organizations, don't contribute enough to the campus, specifically fellowship among minority students. Jackson said A&T has events sponsored by campus organizations almost daily; at UNCW, each organization may sponsor a select few events each semester.
Heggins said the disunity and apathy among black and minority students may be unique to UNCW; she didn't notice the same problems when she visited other predominantly white schools.
Heggins and Jackson agreed that the education, career prospects and social climate at their HBCUs were in no way inferior and at times better than what they experience at UNCW. Although they are only two examples, they reflect a trend. Many students and teachers who have experience with predominantly black and white schools have found HBCUs to have attributes that give them a purpose and make them ideal schools for many students.
For more information about HBCUs and to read other essays about those institutions, visit www.hbcunetwork.com
North Carolina taxpayers should have no objection to their funds supporting the five state-run HBCUs. Those on the inside will tell you that the schools are doing a fine service to their students, surrounding communities and the state as a whole.
The writer can be reached at jalston@hendersondispatch.com
The value of historically Black colleges has been proven, many times. It is well-known that HBCU's have higher retention rates, higher rates of student satisfaction, and higher graduation rates for Black students than those of majority schools.
This is not what I will focus on, though. Although I can see some logic in Connerly's argument (that HBCU's are somewhat non-inclusive in terms of modern "diversity), he contradicts his own argument in his statements opposing considering race in college admissions.
His argument is that there are more factors of diversity other than race, including economic class, location of origin, interests, abilities, political beliefs, and so forth. I agree wholeheartedly, which is why his argument against HBCUs is not valid.
At a historically black college, it is easier to appreciate these differences, which are at other colleges secondary to that of race and class. Hampton, a supposedly monolithic institution, is home to students who, although of simililar heritage, could not be more different. It is home to rich, poor, and middle-class; liberal and conservative; intellectual and cosmopolitan; foreigner and citizen alike. The experience is eye-opening: that not all Black men and women think alike, dress alike, speak similarly, watch the same programs, and listen to the same type of music.
In his definition, race is not a big enough issue in diversity to justify using it to influence admissions, except when HBCU's are concerned. Holla!
i think everything about HBCU's are great the way they look out for the students and the job fairs. and you would think that at pwi's the black professors would look out for the black students, but i guess they don't. i don't know why so many black people look away from HBCU's. when i was younger, i admit i did want to go to a pwi but as i got older i realized taht i needed to be around people like myself and i needed that experience.
