Dec 31, 2018
My, HBC — U’ve Changed: Do HBCUs still matter to Black Young Folk?
Patricia A. Griggs
In the 1930s, the United States had 121 Historically Black Colleges/Universities. Since then, 20 of those institutions have closed. Of the remaining 101 HBCUs, eight of them have a 30 percent or higher Caucasian student population. Even more surprising, two of the eight have a minimum 50 percent white students and two more have a 60 percent or higher white student population according to an analysis of data collected by the U.S. Department of Education. The numbers shocked several people and caused a similar response, “Really?” asked Marcus Alexander, Austin, Texas resident, and HBCU supporter. “What’s the name of the school? I want to look it up.” What do these numbers tell us about HBCUs and their relationship with black people? Do they still matter?
HBCUs are not what they once were. Today, many HBCUs struggle to keep their doors open. To increase numbers, they create alternative education programs which attract different groups of people. Huston-Tillotson University (HT) began an Adult Degree program in 2014. Serena Yan — Assistant Director of the Office of Institutional Planning, Research and Assessment — believes this program is attracting more students from the Latinx and the Caucasian populations. Most have no idea what an HBCU is but find the program convenient and the price right for their budget.
They are also changing as their surrounding population changes. According to Yan, there are 183 Latinx students at Huston-Tillotson University. Although African American students continue to be the dominant group on campus, Yan believes the change has to do with the changing state demographics.
Bluefield State College, also known as “the whitest HBCU in America” opened their doors in 1895. At the time, the area had a large African American population. The school was for the coal miners’ children to attend for a quality college education. When the coal mining jobs went away, so did most of the African Americans from the area.
Another change resulting in more diversity on HBCU campuses was desegregation. After Brown v. the Board of Education passed in support of desegregation, more white students started enrolling in the college. These students were attracted to the low tuition.
By the 1960s, the college had a half black and half white student population. Most of the residential students were African American, and the commuter students were white. The continued struggle came to a head when the state of West Virginia made Wendell G. Hardway the college president. He brought in over 20 faculty members, all white, causing more friction among the African American students and alumni. Tensions continued to rise on campus and ended with a student union bombing of 1968. Though the incident caused no injuries, the residence halls closed, and the African American student population dropped drastically to eight percent.
Louis Manns, Bluefield State College alumni, class of 1969 believes the dorms closing killed the firm African American presence at the college, “The National Guard killed people at Kent State. They didn’t close a single dorm. So why did you close dorms at Bluefield State because of a bombing that didn’t injure anybody…I think the reaction basically showed their own racist agenda…”
HBCU Homecomings are legendary. And though much has changed on this campus, this tradition remains intact. The change so affects alumni that they no longer wish to attend the homecoming celebrations. Manns tells NPR’s Code Switch that the campus change is “too painful,” “When I think about what was and what is now, I don’t want to revisit…”
The younger generation claims they are unbothered by the change. They like the diversity and want for everyone to get along. The homecoming king and queen, traditionally African American were both white in 2013. Another first for the college.
Danielle Haynes, African American alumni class of 2013, and the 2012 homecoming queen has several alumni family members who remember when the school had a larger black student population and a football program.
Danielle shared with Shereen Meraji from Code Switch, “We love the history here, and it’s so amazing to hear about it. But, my generation, we’re not so much hardened by the fact that we don’t look like an HBCU. We just love our school for what it is. They said they [Black Alumni] found comfort here, they found family here, and I did too. And it doesn’t look exactly the same, but I did too.” Bluefield State College representatives were not immediately available for comment.
Huston-Tillotson University’s Latinx population is increasing. Jeffrey Pierce is the Director of Admissions for Huston-Tillotson University. Pierce states that although his team is not intentionally recruiting other races, they have taken notice of the increase in the Latinx population on campus. Thus, they are working with one of the Spanish professors to add Spanish recruitment materials.
Asia Isaac, a junior at Huston-Tillotson University admits that before she started attending HT, she did not know it was an HBCU, nor did she realize the history and importance of an HBCU. When asked how she feels about the demographic changes on HBCU campuses, she shares her approval. The university has to stay open, so they need students. She would, however, like to see more non-African American students show appreciation for the history. “I don’t see an issue with…HBCUs diversifying. I just take issue with students coming to HBCUs simply because there’s a scholarship offered.”
Though the university remains predominantly black, the campus has changed.
Rev. Donald Brewington has worked for Huston-Tillotson University for 27 years. When asked what he thinks about the increase in non-African American students he said, “HBCUs are losing their identity. When I first started the non-black population was at about one percent, and now it has increased. Given what is happening in the community around us, I wonder what that says about the strength and viability of HBCUs. What are these changes saying about the HBCUs that are not the Hamptons, Howards and Moorhouse’s? If we continue going in the direction, what will happen in the next 20–30 years?”
Greek Life, much like Homecoming celebrations are deeply rooted in the DNA of HBCUs. Those traditions continue on the HT campus. Another tradition that remains popular is the Mr. & Miss competition. The increase in diversity is more common on the athletic teams, and also in some of the leadership roles. As students of other races connect with the university, they are also going for roles in leadership.
Do blacks still need the HBCU? Isaac believes so. “I think we should educate people to get more black students to come here.” She believes that HBCUs have a lot to offer not only their African American student population but also the non-African American students that attend.
HBCUs are important to African Americans because it helps teach them about their culture. It gives them a sense of place, and it is an opportunity for students to see others that deal with the same struggles yet press on for success.
Black people matter to HBCUs. Isaac believes that HBCUs still matter to young blacks also. “[Young black students need to know the benefits of attending] an HBCU and why it shouldn’t be your last options of schools to go to and why it should probably be one of the top, cause there’s a lot of great, great HBCUs and they have a lot of history behind them and a lot of great people come out of them. And I don’t think a lot of people know that.”
Isaac says there needs to be more intentional recruitment as younger generations start seeking college options.
“…I think that it’s a lot more important [for HBCU Admissions Teams] to go to these high schools and…explain the importance [for] black students [to attend] HBCUs…. for a long time, these were the only institutions that we were allowed [attend]. And…your experience is going to be way different if you go to a PWI so I think that instead of [marketing] to non black students just to get the quotas and make sure that the doors stay open…we should educate people on the importance of why it’s a good thing to go to an HBCU.”
