My love for Historically Black Colleges and Universities originated with my grandma. Not only did she stress to me the importance of a good education and what it can do for my future, she talked about how her teachers were more like parents and how her classmates and bandmates were as close as family. She often talked about how her extended family were more encouraging and supporting to her than her biological family. So, when I think of college, I think about developing lifelong friendships with classmates who will become a part of my extended family. The three main reasons that I selected to attend a historically black college and university are the family atmosphere, rich history, and the recent racial tensions in America.

My first reason for selecting to attend a historically black college and university is because I am adopted, and family means everything to me. My parents adopted me as an infant, and they have always emphasized that family does not mean blood relation. From day one, my mom said, “surround yourself with kids that have the same values that you were instilled because they will be healthy competitors and will genuinely be excited about your accomplishments. After visiting several HBCUs, it was obvious that the ambassadors and tour guides loved their HBCU and were proud of one another even though they were not actually related. However, they viewed their classmate’s accomplishments as a direct reflection on the family connection and atmosphere that was established during their collegiate days at their HBCU.

My second reason for wanting to attend a historically black college and university is the rich history of each institution. Although HBCUs were primarily established to teach African Americans survival skills, such as agriculture and a means of providing higher education to African Americans they also maintained the institution of segregation. I was enamored with the rich history of each HBCU that I toured. For example, after reading the history behind the A&T Four and how their sit-ins at the lunch counter sparked sit-ins across the south. I reflected on my grandma sharing how as a student at Clark College she participated in sit-ins at the lunch counter at Woolworth in downtown Atlanta. Currently, my grandma is suffering from dementia, but I am certain that she would have selected North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University if she learned of its’ rich civil rights history.

Honestly, before 2020, I was considering attending predominantly white institutions along with a handful of HBCUs. I began really listening to what was being shared during the many virtual college tours that I attended. My third reason for making the decision to matriculate at a historically black college and university was established during the summer of 2020 when Mr. George Floyd was murdered in broad daylight in front of spectators and Mr. Ahmad Aubrey was murdered while jogging in a neighborhood. Yes, there were many other examples, but these two high profile incidents triggered something deep within me. I finally understood the need for me to be surrounded by family while pursuing my degree. Doing so will grant me an opportunity to discuss the injustices and determine how a young black male could truly be instrumental in saving our lives and improving our well-being. Yes, I think the injustices may be discussed in PWIs, but it may not be at the forefront of the campus and classroom discussions. The riots of 2020 made me think and examine my choice of higher education institutions as well as my career choice. While watching the protests that were mostly led by college students, I realized I could easily be negatively profiled. As a result, I became aware about why I needed to attend a school where I felt safe and unjudged.

In conclusion, I elected to attend a historically black college and university because of the family atmosphere, the rich history, and the recent racial tensions. I am excited about making lifelong friendships that resemble a family away from home. Also, the rich history of the A&T Four was a way of connecting my college decision with my grandma. Most importantly, I am excited about attending a college where I will not have to worry about being racially profiled.


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