Hidden in Plain Sight: Historically Black Colleges and Universities in America

Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois held different visions for Black Higher Education. Should college prepare “Talented Tenth” leaders to advocate for full Black equality or teach vocational skills for separate economic development? Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) play sig...

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Main Authors: Walter R. Allen, Audrey Devost, Cymone Mack
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Rosenberg & Sellier 2020-11-01
Series:Quaderni di Sociologia
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/qds/4044
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author Walter R. Allen
Audrey Devost
Cymone Mack
author_facet Walter R. Allen
Audrey Devost
Cymone Mack
author_sort Walter R. Allen
collection DOAJ
description Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois held different visions for Black Higher Education. Should college prepare “Talented Tenth” leaders to advocate for full Black equality or teach vocational skills for separate economic development? Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) play significant roles in American culture and society. HBCUs exert outsized influence producing notable Black scholars, political leaders, professionals, and media stars. However, Anti- Black Racism and White Supremacist attitudes minimize or dismiss these important contributions. We critically examine HBCUs in the US higher education landscape from 1976 to 2015 to overview Black college student attendance and graduation patterns. In 2018, HBCUs (3 percent of US universities) awarded 13 percent of BA degrees, 6 percent of MAs and 11 percent of doctorates earned by African Americans. The percent of total degrees HBCUs awarded Black students declined from 1977: 35 percent BAs, 21 percent MAs and 11 percent Doctorates. Emerging from the fiery furnace of American Slavery, Jim Crow Racism and Racial Oppression, HBCUs provided higher education opportunities to lift the Black community and advance American society. HBCUs are a national treasure that must be preserved and strengthened by dismantling systemic inequities in attitudes, funding, resources, and legislation.
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spelling doaj.art-1e2bd6b4135f4448b39a4df8dea92a292024-02-14T14:23:29ZengRosenberg & SellierQuaderni di Sociologia0033-49522421-58482020-11-018364254610.4000/qds.4044Hidden in Plain Sight: Historically Black Colleges and Universities in AmericaWalter R. AllenAudrey DevostCymone MackBooker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois held different visions for Black Higher Education. Should college prepare “Talented Tenth” leaders to advocate for full Black equality or teach vocational skills for separate economic development? Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) play significant roles in American culture and society. HBCUs exert outsized influence producing notable Black scholars, political leaders, professionals, and media stars. However, Anti- Black Racism and White Supremacist attitudes minimize or dismiss these important contributions. We critically examine HBCUs in the US higher education landscape from 1976 to 2015 to overview Black college student attendance and graduation patterns. In 2018, HBCUs (3 percent of US universities) awarded 13 percent of BA degrees, 6 percent of MAs and 11 percent of doctorates earned by African Americans. The percent of total degrees HBCUs awarded Black students declined from 1977: 35 percent BAs, 21 percent MAs and 11 percent Doctorates. Emerging from the fiery furnace of American Slavery, Jim Crow Racism and Racial Oppression, HBCUs provided higher education opportunities to lift the Black community and advance American society. HBCUs are a national treasure that must be preserved and strengthened by dismantling systemic inequities in attitudes, funding, resources, and legislation.https://journals.openedition.org/qds/4044
spellingShingle Walter R. Allen
Audrey Devost
Cymone Mack
Hidden in Plain Sight: Historically Black Colleges and Universities in America
Quaderni di Sociologia
title Hidden in Plain Sight: Historically Black Colleges and Universities in America
title_full Hidden in Plain Sight: Historically Black Colleges and Universities in America
title_fullStr Hidden in Plain Sight: Historically Black Colleges and Universities in America
title_full_unstemmed Hidden in Plain Sight: Historically Black Colleges and Universities in America
title_short Hidden in Plain Sight: Historically Black Colleges and Universities in America
title_sort hidden in plain sight historically black colleges and universities in america
url https://journals.openedition.org/qds/4044
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