Running Head: Why Historically Black Institutions are Beneficial to African American Students

Shakaria Smith

Why Historically Black Institutions are Beneficial to African American Students

Northern Illinois University

Why Historically Black Institutions are Beneficial to African American Students

Introduction

In higher education the shifting demographics of college students is being examined

thoroughly. Historically Black Colleges and Universities continue to provide an important role in

the African American community and in higher education by providing a culture of excellence

Cantey, Bland, Mack & Davis (2011). There has been a lot of progress in regards to the shift

within the past 35 years in enrolling more students from groups historically underrepresented in

the U.S colleges and universities. Colleges struggle with providing quality education for

nontraditional students in higher education. In the year of 1837 African American students had

institutions that were geared towards their specific needs. Since then Historically Black Colleges

have had a great impact on the success of African American students in higher education.

Historical Context

According to Davis (1998), it is very important to understand the historical context of

Historically Black Colleges because “the present situation of these schools and their students

cannot be understood and appreciated without some knowledge of historical events that

influenced the development and current state of these institutions”. HBCUs play a vital role in

the strength of the African American culture. HBCUS unites the black community and helps to

improve the leadership skills for many Black students. One of the most positive legacies of this

history is that the environments on these campuses seem well-suited for promoting scholastic

success among African American Students. HBCUs have helped to enhance student’s education

as well as positively influencing the African American communities. Historically Black Colleges

has helped create a foundation for the structure of the social stratification system for these

African Americans communities.

Why Historically Black Institutions are Beneficial to African American Students

The Civil War, which resulted in abolition of slavery, served as an important

achievement for African Americans. African Americans finally had the opportunity to learn and

engage in higher education. The opportunity for education was essential to them because it

allowed them to progress past the slavery days and gave them the opportunity to improve their

social class, which was typically low income. White missionary groups gave a lot of the funding

to the black institutions. There was a continuous struggle between African American cravings to

be empowered and White desires for assimilation and social control that continued to shape the

institutions throughout the years.

During the years of 1825 through 1920, African Americans had a major shift in higher

education. Over twenty-five years after the Civil War more than 100 colleges and universities

were established for African Americans students. These colleges were mainly found in the

South. Historically Black institutions focused on the education of African American students.

Examples of these HBCUs are as follows: Howard University, Fisk University, Atlanta

University, Hampton Institute, Straight College, which is called Dillard now, Bennett College,

Clark College, Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Shaw University. The cultural biases

of White missionaries largely dictated the curricular means by which these goals would be

achieved. Until the 20th century, about 90% of African American students has attended

historically black institutions that number has made a drastic decrease. Since the 1960’s only

17% of Black students enrolling in the 103 HBCUs in this country Kim & Conrad (2006).

“Florida A& M University has the largest endowment of public Historically Black Colleges.

Challenges

Historically Black colleges have continuously faced many struggles and challenges.

They constantly had to deal with the positon of Historically Black Colleges not adding any value
Why Historically Black Institutions are Beneficial to African American Students

or relevance in the 21st Century. Detractors suggest that historically Black colleges are

academically inferior and would be better off if turned into community colleges or for profit

schools or online schools such as the University of Phoenix” and that “HBCUs were the

embarrassment of the nation” Cantey, Bland, Mack & Davis (2013).

Finances have been a challenge for many HBCUs. Many historically black colleges are

dependent on Pell grants, veteran benefits, Social Security benefits and federal loans. This

method to fund Historically Black colleges is uncertain due to its dependence on state, local and

federal government. This technique of funding is not concrete because government funding is

always changing. It also can affect faculty and staff incomes, which can result in a reduction in

student enrollment. The less students there are enrolled in institutions the less funding that

institutions will receive. Riley (2010) noted Mr. Barack Obama hosted a White House reception

to celebrate the contributions of the nation’s 105 black colleges and to reiterate his pledge to

invest another $850 million in these institutions over the next decade”. Even though this will be a

great benefit to institutions the disbursement will pillar centralized support which will be

managed and monitored by HBCU leaders.

Another challenge historically black colleges face is the leadership that students are

exhibiting. Having strong leadership skills is ideal in order for students to be able to progress and

persist throughout college. The question that still remains is can student leaders at historically

black institutions make advances to develop a better method to provide funding for their

institutions. Leadership in historically black colleges is as challenging as finding finance, which

influences how finances are secured to maintain HBCUs and their academic achievements. The

selection of the president in HBCUs has been too political, with the governor, Board of Regents,

and legislators playing games that are designed to select weak leaders so that the HBCU would
Why Historically Black Institutions are Beneficial to African American Students

not excel Cantey, Bland Mack & Davis (2011). Leadership, governance, and management in

HBCU’s have been challenged by underprepared students, inadequate resources, students from

low-income families, and increasing tuition.

Current Status of HBCU’s

In many respects, the African American students have struggled for higher education.

Hearing that African American progress in higher education is at risk, some will find such a

pronouncement alarmist Allen & Griffen (2007). Professionals will argue that U.S. cultural ethos

and practices have changed so fundamentally that African Americans are ensured continued

access to higher education. We, however, are less positive on this point Allen & Griffen (2007)

The responsibility that Historically Black Colleges has today is as relevant now as it was

in 1936, particularly in the backdrop of continuous racial and gender inequalities in the age of

Obama. To further sustain excellence through recruitment and retention of faculty, HBCUs must

increase the number of African–American Ph.D. level faculty as this helps to increase the

available number of accredited programs. In the 21st century today, there are over 100

historically black colleges that represent almost 3% of all institutions of higher learning in the

nation; yet during the 1990s, these institutions enrolled around one-quarter of all Black students

in U.S. higher education Cantey, Bland, Mack & Davis (2013). Historically Black Colleges have

helped to liberate and empower Black aspirations for the American dream. Historically Black

Colleges were conceived at the intersection between ideal aspirations and racial restriction. Since

Historically Black Colleges have been established, Black colleges have been known to attract

students who are low-income, first- generation, single parents, or from underrepresented

minority groups, and these institutions continue to fulfill the mission to service these students.
Why Historically Black Institutions are Beneficial to African American Students

African American student enrollment into historically black colleges has increased during

the 1900’s. Morehouse, Spelman, Howard, Xavier, Hampton, Florida A&M are some of the

most popular historically black institutions that students are attending. These schools in

particular competed successfully with PWIs for the best students that the Black community had

to offer (Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Honoring the Past, Engaging the Present,

Touching the Future). Studies have even shown that now that is an increase in the enrollment of

Whites attending historically black institutions. Also a lot of HBCUs attract the media, because

of their beautiful and authentic campuses. Many popular films and shows such as School Daze,

A Different World and Drumline were successful because they were filmed at historically Black

Colleges. (2002). As of today historically black institutions have a reputation to test the racial

and gender status quo in higher education. HBCU, have offered in the past and will continue to

offer in the future, African Americans educational opportunities, they were among the first

institutions to open their doors to students regardless of race, creed, color, gender, or national

origin, despite the existence of segregationist customs that severely limited the practice of this

ideal.

Student Success

Fleming’s analysis confirmed that most African American students felt a greater sense of

connectedness, power, and affiliation on HBCU campuses than at PWIs, which after influenced

their cognitive and intellectual development Harper, Carini, Bridges and Hayek (2004). African

Americans who attend historically black institutions have a higher success rate than African

American students who attend predominately-white institutions. In terms of retention and

graduation from college, Cross-and Astin (1981) and Pascarella, Smart, Ethington, and Nettles

reported that attending a historically black college is positively associated with students
Why Historically Black Institutions are Beneficial to African American Students

remaining in college and earning a bachelor’s degree Kim and Conrad (2006). Not only does

students who attend HBCU are having a higher academic success rate, they are also more

engaged in activities on their campuses. Also students who attend historically black institutions

have a positive connection with those students remaining in college and receiving a degree.,

HBCUs are making meaningful efforts to retain African-American students Kim & Conrade

(2006).

Student engagement is essential for success in higher education. Student engagement is

especially important for underrepresented and underserved students like the African American

population. When students who are considered as underrepresented and underserved attend post-

secondary institutions those students have a very low success rate that they will excel and

graduate from college. In order to be successful it is important that students must be

academically engaged but students should have out of the classroom student engagement as well.

Student engagement not only gives students the out of the classroom experience but it provides

students with a sense of belonging. In higher education, the issue that African American students

face is actually being successful in college. African American students being involved on their

campus has had a positive impact on them being successful college students. The bigger issue is

that students who attend HBCUs are more engaged and successful in college versus African

American students who attend PWI who are less engaged on their campus.

Kuh (2008) found that African American students benefit more from the positive effects

associated with high levels of student engagement relative to their Caucasian peers. An example

would be when both African American and Caucasian students self-reported low student

engagement, it was discovered that African American students were less likely than their

Caucasian peers to persist to the second year of college at the same university. Black Greek
Why Historically Black Institutions are Beneficial to African American Students

Letter organizations are one of the most popular organizations that Black students join in college.

Many of the first black Greek letter organizations were founded at Historically Black colleges

such as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Phi

Beta Sigma Fraternity and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority known to help develop some of the most

influential leaders on college campuses.

Being a part of Greek letter organizations helps students develop leadership skills,

professional develop and for some student advocacy. Being a part of Greek Letter organizations

for African American students at historically black institutions and predominately white

institutions has uncovered a variety of leadership roles, opportunities for civic engagement, and

has been a networking tool for students who are apart of these organizations. In addition, Greek

Letter organizations have helped students participate in community service and portray academic

achievement. Minority students rely a lot on minority based or organizations in order to be

successful in college. Minority based organizations provide students with a sense of belonging.

Involvement in minority-based organizations facilitates the adjustment to the college

environment for minority students in ways that non-ethnic organizations do not Baker (2008).

Many minority students express themselves, culture and racial identities though student

organizations that they have been mem

Conclusion/Implications

Further research needs to be done on the impact that Black Greek letter organizations has

on student involvement and leadership skills of black students. Some positive impacts of Black

Greek life have been identified but further research could provide the higher education field with

the facts that they need in order to deem the importance of black letter organizations. The media

displays many of the negative aspects of Black Greek Letter organizations, further research
Why Historically Black Institutions are Beneficial to African American Students

should focus on the positive impacts of Black Greek Letter Organizations. A follow-up study

yielding qualitative data would provide an extensive understanding of the nature of Black student

involvement and leadership development relative to membership in Black Greek Letter

Organizations Baker (2008). They further suggest that national historically Black fraternities

and sororities should continue to support and monitor their undergraduate chapters to better

refine the chapters' leadership development potential. More information needs to be explored

about how institutions shift from being an impediment to being a vehicle for student engagement

and success. Historically Black Institutions have been very beneficial to not only the African

American culture. Without Historically Black Colleges many African American students may as

though they did not have a higher institution to represent their culture.
Why Historically Black Institutions are Beneficial to African American Students

References

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Baker, C (2008). Under-represented college students and extracurricular involvement: the effects
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Riley, J. (2010). Black Colleges Need a New Mission Once an essential response to racism, they
are now academically inferior. The Wall Street Journal, September 28, 2010.
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Why Historically Black Institutions are Beneficial to African American Students