What Are Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)?

Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of primarily serving the African American community. HBCUs have played a vital role in providing access to higher education for African Americans and other minority groups who have historically been denied such opportunities. Today, HBCUs continue to serve as a source of knowledge, support, and opportunity for the African American community.

The History of HBCUs

HBCUs have a long and important history in the United States that dates back to the Civil War. Following the Civil War, the Freedman’s Bureau was created to provide educational, medical, and other forms of assistance to freed slaves. With the support of the Freedman’s Bureau, several HBCUs were created as colleges for freed slaves who otherwise would not have access to higher education.

The most famous of these colleges is Fisk University, founded in 1866 in Nashville, Tennessee. Fisk was the first college for African Americans in the South, and it helped pave the way for other HBCUs such as Howard University (1867), Tuskegee Institute (1881), and Hampton Institute (1868).

The Relevance of HBCUs Today

Today, HBCUs remain one of the most important sources of access and opportunity in higher education for African Americans and other minorities. HBCUs are often more selective in their admissions and have lower admission rates than non-HBCUs. They also have significantly higher graduation rates, lower student loan default rates, and more positive outcomes for students.

According to the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, “HBCUs have been and remain a beacon of hope in uplifting African-American communities, providing academic and social support to students, and grooming a new generation of, often first-generation, educated African- Americans for the global workforce.”

Conclusion

HBCUs are an important part of the long history of African American education in the United States. As higher education becomes increasingly out of reach for many African Americans, HBCUs continue to serve as a critical source of access and opportunity for African American students. HBCUs continue to face a variety of challenges, from underfunding and inadequate facilities to a lack of educational resources, but they nonetheless remain an important part of higher education in the United States.