Running Head: HBCUS AND THEIR SUCCESS 1

Historically Black Colleges/Universities Success: Review of the Literature

Brea Katlyn Burnett

Hampton University
HBCUS AND THEIR SUCCESS 2

Abstract

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are schools known very well to those who

are in the African American community. HBCUs were founded strictly for black slaves who were

not allowed to get the proper education from white schools because of their skin color. Some

HBCUs, such as: Spelman College, Howard University, Hampton University, and Morehouse

College, Tuskegee University; with these being the top five HBCUs in the country the amount of

successful black individuals they have produced is equally the same as a PWI. The research

questions that were purposed are, who typically discriminates against HBCUs, what notable

alum attended any HBCU and what what makes a school credible? After completing a survey,

the results show that both black and white people who attend PWIs discriminate of those who

attend HBCUs.
HBCUS AND THEIR SUCCESS 3

The first and oldest Historically Black Colleges/University (HBCUs) in the United States

is Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, which was originally known as the Institute for Colored

Youth. Given that people of color were less fortunate when it came to education, Richard

Humphreys, a philanthropist, funded this university specifically for African Americans. Soon

after Cheyney University of Pennsylvania was founded, many other leaders followed in

Humphreys footsteps to create a higher education system for African Americans. Today, black

HBCU grads are stronger in purpose, financial well being, and a better support system from

staff/professors. (Burnett, Genre Analysis Paper)

HBCUs provides a foundation for Black Americans to succeed beyond college. Some

may argue that HBCUs are not diverse because only black students attend the school or that

HBCUs do not have the proper accreditation to be successful along with other schools. When

researching, some important questions to consider are:

1. Who typically discriminates against HBCUs?

2. Who are notable alum from HBCUs?

3. What makes a school credible?

4. Do HBCUs prepare graduates for the real world?

The following questions will help gain both primary and secondary information regarding

HBCUs importance in society and within the black culture. These resources will also provide

information about who typically discriminated against HBCUs, what notable alumni have

attended HBCUs, the factors that make a school credible, and whether or not HBCUs prepare

graduates for the real world beyond college.

HBCUS AND THEIR SUCCESS 4

What makes HBCUs Successful?

Why Historically Black Colleges and Universities Matter in Todays America, was

published by Melissa E. Wooten. In this article she explains the significance and contributions of

HBCU students and graduates in todays America. The purpose of publishing the article is to

inform those who do not know the significance of black schools in this day in age. Some key

roles that Wooten names are that black schools have always been the vehicles for liberty and

equality in the journey for black liberation, black Americans are very knowledgeable about the

relationship between education and democracy. Wooten believes that HBCUs bring an impact to

society but also has faced several challenges with funding. (Wooten)

Who typically discriminates against HBCUs?

Today, many people are having the debate about what college is considered better for the

black American. In further research, it was concluded that other people believed that black

people who attend Predominantly White Institutions and white individuals who attend/attended

Predominantly White Institutions both discriminate against black schools. With the false

information that is being relayed in the media that black schools do not prepare you for the real

world or does not have a strong access to diversity. The results of this survey show that only 5%

of black people who attend PWIs, about 19% of white people who attend PWIs, 48% of people

believe that both black and white people who attend PWIs discriminate against HBCUs, and

lastly about 29% were not sure. A chart depicting the survey responses is provided below. See

Figure 1 below for the graph of the results.

HBCUS AND THEIR SUCCESS 5

The results of this survey cannot be generalized by a large population. The sample that I

have chosen is a very small demographic of what people think about the topic. Everyone who

took the survey was African American so this may have skewed the results slightly. Also, some

of the people who took the survey did not attend college at all so they may not have the

knowledge of what it is like to be at an HBCU and/or PWI, so their perspectives may be altered

by what they hear via social media.

An article, Viewpoint: HBCU vs PWI debate misses the real point of higher education by

Jaleesa Jones. A college student, Olivia Sedwick chose to attend an HBCU, Winston Salem State

University located in North Carolina, rather than big name schools such as: Baylor, Marquette,

Xavier and/or Purdue. (Jones, Paragraph 1) As a young black woman, it was essential for her to

find herself at an HBCU rather than going to another Predominantly White School, as she went

to a high school where she was the minority.

During the time when she was applying to schools, around 2014. Black Twitter (a cultural

Twitter known to the black community) blew up into a serious debate about PWI schools and

HBCUs about which one was more of a useful degree. Sedwick was unamused by this debate

and was very satisfied with her choice of Winston Salem State University. David Sangster, a

senior at Tennessee State University agrees with Sedwick about how tiring the HBCU and PWI

debate is. He feels as if this is separating the black community and categorizing African

Americans into separate us based off of where a college degree was earned. A senior from

Indiana State University-Bloomington (PWI) says I think people only discredit HBCUs because

of how people view blackness. So, when you speak of black institutions, people kind of turn their

nose up. People automatically elevate PWIs because theyre white colleges and theres this idea

that a majority-white school is quality (Williams) Due to black being used a negative concept
HBCUS AND THEIR SUCCESS 6

having a degree from HBCUs are looked down upon from those in the black community that

attend PWIs.

Who are notable alum from HBCUs?

Alumni from different schools come back and give back to their schools once they are successful

and well off into their careers. Unfortunately, HBCUs are given the negative reputation in this

society because of how black it is and/or how it is not diverse within the network. What people

fail to realize is that many successful individuals are products of black schools such as: Booker

T. Washington, Taraji P. Henson, Wanda Sykes, Lionel Richie, Debbie Allen, Lance Gross,

Phylicia Rashad and many more. All of these individuals are well of in their lives and careers.

In the journal article, Distinguished HBCU Alumni, the anonymous author talks about the

unrecognized alumni who are not as well known as the names that were listed but have still made

a huge impact in society like Mr. Daryl K. Washington. Washington is a graduate from the

illustrious Howard University with a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering. After

graduating, Washington then worked for the U.S. Department of Defense. In this position, he

spent over a decade as a General Schedule (GS) or white-collar professional worker.

(Anonymous) He wanted to further his career and then decided to open to start his own business

which is known as DKW Communications Inc. Expanding his brand to several other locations,

Washington is now a millionaire and thriving in his industry. Having a degree from a HBCU

does not make that person any less credible from a black person who has a degree from a PWI.
HBCUS AND THEIR SUCCESS 7

What makes a school credible?

When evaluating the results from the survey, it shows that most people believe that

accreditation is what

makes a school credible.

Not the amount of

people who go there, or

how diverse it is to

society, or how many

clubs there are on

campus; it is strictly

based off of the school's

accreditation. In Figure 1.2 it shows the results of what people think about a schools credibility

and what defines its credibility. The results of this data shows that majority of the people who

took the survey believe that the programs that the school offers and accreditation are essential to

when assessing to see if a school is considered credible. Almost 60% of participants said that

accreditation is important, while about 45% believe that the programs within the school is an

important factor to a school's credibility.

HBCUs are known to have low funding from the government and also for losing their

accreditation over the past ten years. The new president of Barber-Scotia, an HBCU in North

Carolina faced a major situation where the accreditation of the school was lost because Barber-

Scotia revealed that it had awarded degrees to 27 students in the adult education program who

hadn't completed all of the requirements. (Powell)

HBCUS AND THEIR SUCCESS 8

References:

Burnett, B. K. (n.d.). What makes a school credible? [Chart]. In What makes HBCU's

Successful?

Melissa E Wooten Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Massachusetts

Amherst. (2017, February 06). Why historically black colleges and universities

matter in today's America. Retrieved March 20, 2017, from

ProQuest [Advertisement]. (2015, August 17). Distinguished HBCU Alumni.

http://search.proquest.com/docview/1704371698/abstract/9FB3167B79CD49C0PQ/1?

accountid=11272

Powell, T. (2004). In Not So Good Company. Black Issues In Higher Education, 21(14),

8-9.