HBCU Colleges: A Legacy of Education and Empowerment
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) represent a vital chapter in American education. These institutions were founded with the principal mission of educating African Americans, who were routinely denied admission to the nation’s colleges and universities prior to 1964. Today, HBCUs continue to play a crucial role in educating successive generations of leaders in the United States and abroad.
Defining an HBCU
An HBCU is any accredited college or university established before 1964 with the primary goal of educating African Americans. Most HBCUs are coeducational and public, although there are also private institutions. They began with a small number of buildings and offered specialized training in religion, education, agriculture, and industrial arts.
Despite their rich social and cultural capital, HBCUs face challenges such as federal budget cuts and rising college costs. A majority of their students are first-generation college/university attendees in need of financial assistance. Finding ways to survive and thrive in the face of such adversities is a persistent challenge for HBCUs.
The Impact of HBCUs
HBCUs comprise roughly 3% of the nation’s four-year colleges but produce the majority of African American professionals, including doctors, dentists, judges, journalists, and educators. In 2020, there were 101 HBCUs. The legacy of these historic institutions stands as a testament to the dedication of intentional communities, despite organized opposition, neglect, and ignorance.
Notable HBCUs and Their History
Several HBCUs stand out for their unique histories and contributions:
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Cheyney University: Founded in 1837 as the African Institute in Pennsylvania, Cheyney University is the nation’s first HBCU. It was established through the bequest of Richard Humphreys, a Quaker philanthropist. Initially specializing in the trades and agriculture, Cheyney is now rooted in the liberal arts with other select areas of study through its School of Arts and Sciences and its School of Education and Professional Studies.
Wilberforce University: Established in 1856 in Ohio, Wilberforce University is the nation’s oldest, private HBCU owned and operated by African Americans. Named to honor 18th-century British abolitionist William Wilberforce, the school was a product of the collaborative efforts of black and white Methodist churches. Today, Wilberforce is a liberal arts institution with a distinct focus on entrepreneurship.
Fisk University: Fisk University convened its first classes in 1866 in a former Union Army barracks in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1930, Fisk became the first HBCU to be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Today, as a leading research and teaching university, Fisk offers a broad range of academic programs on both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Through its John Lewis Center for Social Justice, the school fosters an understanding of social activism and advances racial equity strategies and initiatives.
Coppin State University: Founded in 1900, Coppin State University is an urban-oriented institution located in Baltimore, Maryland. Today, it offers fifty-three majors and nine graduate degree programs. Noted for its community outreach services, Coppin is the first university to manage and successfully upgrade a neighborhood elementary school. The university is named in honor of Fanny Jackson Coppin, an educator and missionary, who was born enslaved but became the second African American woman to graduate from college and the first to become superintendent of a school district.
Howard University: From a single building in 1867, Howard University in Washington, D.C., has grown into a prestigious university with thirteen schools and colleges. The university is among the nation’s greatest producers of African American professionals in a range of disciplines, including dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, social work, and education.
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Greek Life at HBCUs
Pledging refers to the official process for becoming a member of a sorority or fraternity. On HBCU campuses, students generally pledge one of the “Divine Nine” Greek letter organizations: Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Phi Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Kappa Alpha Psi, Phi Beta Sigma, Zeta Phi Beta, Sigma Gamma Rho, Iota Phi Theta, and Omega Psi Phi. Formed mostly during the early 20th century, these organizations have inspired enthusiastic participation in campus events and have promoted student camaraderie, community service, and social progress.
Athletics and Culture
For many students, sports and marching bands are essential to college life and figure prominently in students' decisions to attend a particular university. Homecoming games, where enthusiastic marching bands display their fierce musical talent and highly spirited styles, date back to 1946, with the creation of Florida A&M’s Marching 100. Historically, many athletic programs at HBCUs lost their most talented athletes to predominantly white colleges and universities; however, a rising trend among top recruits today is their choice to play at a HBCU.
HBCUs as Stewards of History and Culture
HBCUs have long served as repositories for the treasures of African American history and culture. The first African American museum in the United States was founded at Hampton University in 1868. Today, over 60% of the nation’s 101 accredited HBCUs house a cultural heritage site, museum, art gallery, and/or archive. Through exhibitions, publications, digitization programs, and other initiatives, institutions have promoted awareness of the vital role of HBCUs as cultural stewards and provided support for the preservation of these significant collections.
Partnering for Stewardship and Preservation
The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is dedicated to preserving the history of HBCUs and helping to ensure the success of HBCU graduates. Through its Robert F. Smith Center for the Digitization and Curation of African American History, the Museum has partnered with several HBCUs, including Tuskegee, Bethune-Cookman, Morgan State, and Fisk universities.
The role of HBCUs as stewards of fine art, archival materials, and material culture is a primary focus of the Office of Strategic Partnerships (OSP) at NMAAHC. This work has culminated in the HBCU History and Culture Access Consortium, a partnership with five institutions-Texas Southern, Tuskegee, Clark Atlanta, Jackson State, and Florida A & M universities. Launched in 2021, this five-year pilot includes collections inventorying/cataloguing, digitization and creation of an open-source digital platform, a traveling exhibition and catalogue, training and leadership development, and project evaluation and expansion.
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HBCU Locations and a Changing Landscape
Most HBCUs are located in the Southern United States, where state laws generally required educational segregation until the 1950s and 1960s.
List of HBCUs
Here is a list of some HBCUs across various states:
- Alabama: Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Miles College.
- Arkansas: University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Arkansas Baptist College.
- Delaware: Delaware State University.
- Florida: Bethune-Cookman University, Edward Waters College, Florida A&M University, Florida Memorial University.
- Kentucky: Kentucky State University.
- Louisiana: Dillard University, Grambling State University, Southern University at New Orleans, Southern University at Shreveport, Southern University and A&M College, Xavier University of Louisiana.
- Maryland: Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
- Mississippi: Alcorn State University, Coahoma Community College, Jackson State University, Mississippi Valley State University.
- Missouri: Harris-Stowe State University, Lincoln University.
- North Carolina: Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, Shaw University.
- Ohio: Central State University, Wilberforce University.
- Pennsylvania: Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, Lincoln University.
- South Carolina: Allen University, Benedict College, South Carolina State University.
- Tennessee: Fisk University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Meharry College, Tennessee State University.
- Texas: Huston-Tillotson University, Jarvis Christian University, Paul Quinn College, Prairie View A&M University, Southwestern Christian College.
- Virginia: Hampton University, Norfolk State University, Virginia Union University.
- West Virginia: Bluefield State University, West Virginia State University.
- Georgia: Albany State University, Clark Atlanta University, Fort Valley State University, Morehouse College, Savannah State University.
- Oklahoma: Langston University.
- District of Columbia: Howard University.
HBCU Rankings and College Choice
College choice is a personal decision, especially for Black youth. Priorities for college selection vary for each student. All HBCUs have value and are fulfilling their shared mission of educating Black Americans.
