What do Martin Luther King Jr., Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and former Vice President Kamala Harris have in common? Theyâre all graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
The schools saw a surge in applications from high school seniors after the murder of George Floyd. And along with increasingly being seen by Black high school students and families as havens of safety â both physically and culturally â HBCUs produce nearly 13% of all Black graduates, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics.
Iâm a Morgan State graduate, so I know first-hand these schools arenât just academic institutions. Theyâre a testament to the determination of Black Americans to create spaces of excellence, empowerment, and cultural affirmation in the face of racism. And in the nearly 187 years since the first HBCU â the African Institute, later renamed Cheyney University of Pennsylvania â opened its doors, theyâve become incubators of Black intellectuals, activists, and professionals.
The 2022 proclamation from former President Joe Biden for National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week pointed out their incredible contributions to society: âHBCUs have produced 40 percent of all Black engineers and 50 percent of all Black lawyers in America. Seventy percent of Black doctors in our country attended an HBCU, and 80 percent of Black judges are alumni of these schools.â
The institutions also play a prominent role in maintaining the Black teacher pipeline. They produce 50% of Black teachers, thus boosting the number of Black men entering classrooms and introducing students to the love of learning.
So, this Black History Month, letâs look at the contributions five HBCUs have made, and how their current impact on K-12 education makes a difference.
Howard University
When the school is the alma mater of Carter G. Woodson, the creator of Black History Month, you know it has to be No. 1 on the list. Founded 150 years ago by Army General Oliver Otis Howard, Howard University has also long been a pioneer in educating Black women at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Our first Black vice president, Kamala Harris, graduated in 1986. Charlotte Ray, the nationâs first Black woman lawyer â and the first woman admitted to the Washington D.C. bar â graduated from Howardâs law school in 1872.
HU continues to make modern-day strides as it competes directly with schools in underserved communities through its dual enrollment courses.
Spelman College
Voted as the #1 HBCU in the country for 17 consecutive years by U.S News & World Report, Spelman College has earned its distinction for more reasons than one. Founded in 1881 as Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, the all-womenâs campus has been a beacon of education and hope for Black women nationwide. Spelman College was home to visionaries like Martin Luther King Jrâs daughter, peace advocate and CEO of the King Center, Dr Bernice King, politician and activist Stacey Abrams, and the legendary novelist Alice Walker. Walkerâs Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, âThe Color Purple,â is one of the most frequently banned books in the United States and continues to serve as a staple in Black history and culture.
Spelman continues to serve the greater Black education community through partnerships like their initiative with the National Education Equity Lab, a nonprofit that works to boost economic and social mobility for high school students. The program provides free college-level courses to low-income high school students to make them confident they can succeed in college and prepare them for higher education. In addition, alumnae of the college are working to make attending the institution more affordable for incoming freshmen and current students.
Florida A&M University