Are Historically Black Colleges Worth It?
Some scholars suggest that the “unique educational services” once provided by HBCUs to Black students have now disappeared.
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September 24th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
Yes, HBCU’s are definitely “more than worth it.” For many students attending an HBCU that still has a predominantly African American student body and/or faculty (That is NOT the case at several HBCU’s.) may be the first and last time they get to know what the normalcy “privilege” is in attending college and/or being taught, counseled, staffed by other African Americans. Though if they step a foot or perhaps a block off campus that unearned privilege will not exist. I was disturbed at a prestigeous summer seminar I attended earlier this year that two African Americans with Ph.D.’s said in a whiny voice that Black students at HBCU’s need to “get over being Black.” “Look at poor me…I’m black,” one said. Students at Hofstra are not asked to get over being Jewish. Students at Catholic universities are not asked to get over being Catholic. Instead in addition to learning the traditional cannons of their heritage they may also get an opportunity to, in some classes, delve deeper into the unique contributions of their heritage in ways that are not possible at predominantly White, Anglo-Saxon or Protestant institutions of higher learning. Should the state help support HBCU’s? Darn skippy…It “ain’t” 40 acres and a mule plus 130 years interest but it’s something.