(ThyBlackMan.com) After reading an article by Richard Vedder, Why Do We Have HBCU’s?, I came to the conclusions most people really do not see the major impact of some of these great institution of higher learning. HBCU’s produce more black PhD students than other institutions reported by the National Science Foundation.
The data is one-sided and often times intentionally misinterpreted to hide under the ruse of scientific analyzes. HBCU’s were at one time the epicenter of black education and athletics. After the Civil Rights movement the doors of integration were slung open for black students to enter into the halls of white institutions that previously left them out. If the carpet would have been rolled out from the jump then there would not be a need for HBCU’s but obviously there was a need for the black student and athlete.
I will first deal with the black athletes being allowed into white institution. I remember hearing stories from my father of how the black athletes went to 
Grambling, Winston Salem State, Tennessee State or South Carolina State. These programs set the standard in many different sports and became benchmarks for success in HBCU’s and well as white institutions. The truth is they could have beat most of the white institution but never had the chance because those schools refused to play them. As the Civil Rights Movement came to fruition or began to accomplish its goals many of the great black athletes began to migrate to the white institutions that had previously kept them out. Can you imagine what Alabama Crimson Tide winning percentage would resemble if they did not have the black players that they have now? What if Mark Ingram (Alabama) was at Grambling along with Denard Robinson (Michigan) at quarterback along with some of the other great, black players in college football? But these guys go to where the media exposure is prevalent and they have better chance of going to the NFL or NBA. They “supposedly” get a fair deal by obtaining a degree but that can also be called into question.
The second is the migration of the some of the great minds to white institutions. The same principle is at work in the life of the mind. Black students buy into the hype that going to an Ivy League school or any white institution is fair better than attending and HBCU. The thought is that it will make you more hirable if you attend that school versus a HBCU. The consensus is that HBCU’s are just mediocre and really have no distinct directions or purpose but are just giving frivolous degrees with no meaning or value.
What is missed by most commentary is the sense of community that is felt on an HBCU campus. A sense of family is developed in the classroom. The professor becomes an extension of the student’s family, who has the ability and opportunity to shape and mold the student’s life. There is an invested effort to teach because ultimately the student represents the professor in the real world. There is no shunning of assignments or given grades because there is a sense of responsibility and respect that is demanded from the students. The professor takes it personally if each and every student drops out.
My Experience @ Benedict College
I remember being at Benedict College in Columbia, SC. It was a place that taught me the value of friendship as well as respect for others lock in the struggle with me. The most profound moment was being in Dr. Gunn’s class. He was the first black intellectual that I meet in academia. He spoke with an assuredness and dressed impeccably. He carried himself like an elder of the community and got that respect as such. He spoke his mind but always in love. He would pull you to the side when he needed and would call you to the floor when you slacked off. The focus upon grades were minimal (don’t misconstrue) if your personal formation lacked. He wanted the grades to be up to par and you character to reflect the same high standard-neither being neglected. He introduced me to critical thinking that challenge the thoughts of mainstream media. But regardless of all his great work it never made sense until that one day.
That one day was about three days after the Million Man March. A few of the brothers went but all of us watch it on TV. That day it class synergy happen and his words started to resonate with us all. Brothers told the story of what was happening at that event and how it transformed their lives. It was almost a collective apology in the room for not being the great students that he had so envisioned. From that class all the males graduated and the majority went on to get their masters. A few even have the PhD’s or are working on them. That day it all made since why we went to a HBCU…
Now, I am not declaring that HBCU are faultless but when you have invested professors like Dr. William Gunn it makes the difference. He was the Rakim of the academic scene at Benedict College. He was so far ahead of his time that I am just starting to scratch the service of what he was teaching and sharing. Dr. Gunn was the epitome of what HBCU’s bring to the table. There are some things they can work on but that is reminiscent of all schools. But there are some things that they do well-they take those who others have frowned upon and turn them in to productive, solid young black men…
Staff Writer; Brian Foulks
More articles can be found over at Mr. Folks personal website; Brian Foulks.
