Positioning Of Blacks At HBCUs: A "Colored" Responsibility?
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Posted By: Cory France on November 29, 2010 Many have said the best places for an African American to obtain a degree higher than a high school diploma is at a Historically Black College or University. In fact, graduation and retention rates for those African American students are often more successful than at non-black institutions. HBCUs in recent years have managed to become some of the nation's top-ranked places of higher education. In the same breathe, they have even managed to attract a significant amount of non-African ethnicities, including Caucasian and Hispanic-Americans. However, the positioning and views of blacks at predominantly institutions or ivy-leagues have still been a podium for social commentary amongst the African American community. For years now, "black-taxing" and self-identity issues have served as the commentary for black students who attend predominately white institutions, while 'the crab mentality' and afro-centricism have often represented the outside opinions of HBCUs. Moreover, Black college students across the country dialogue constantly about their respective institutions, assessing their reasoning for attending college and evaluating the effectiveness of their education based on the cultural climate of their campuses. Sophomore Recorded Music major at New York University, Anais Kane, notes that 'priorities and sacrifices' were major factors in her college decision making process despite her slight desire to experience a traditional HBCU experience. "When I was applying for college, I did not look at it as the next educational level, but as a career move", said Kane; " Where I am now, I am still getting a good education; I am learning to deal with all kinds of people--from race, class, religions, etc. and I can't deny that is very beneficial for me." To Angelika Smith, Sophomore Elementary Education major at Coastal Carolina University, attending a non-HBCU is an enjoyable experience that gives her a change of scenery and diverse racial climate. "Having been raised in the inner city of Columbia, SC all of my life, I was rarely exposed to different cultures and activities", Smith said. "At Coastal, there is a happy and friendly atmosphere. It feels right going to a university where there are lots of people from all over and tons of things to do." Since the establishment of the HBCU educational system, African Americans have become increasingly adamant about attending colleges and the impact of institutions within the network will continuously be apparent. According to Howard University student, Marjon Wolfe--"attending an HBCU gives one a solid foundation and allows them to find themselves both as an African American and a growing human being". Despite where one decides to attend school, topics on blacks in education will continue to be relevant in most discussions within the African American community. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Cory France
From Silver Spring, MD , DC Howard University class of 2013 Member Since August 2008 |
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