Posted on December 2, 2019
Do you know about Historically Black Colleges and Universities? They were created in order to give black people - many of whom were once enslaved - higher educations that they were denied at other institutions. Many of the HBCU started off with little money and held classes in people's homes, in churches, in basements, or oId schoolhouses. But in 1890 a law was passed requiring states to provide land-grants to colleges that educated black students; because of that law, the HBCUs were able to establish their own campuses.
Now that every U.S. college and university admits black student, some people ask why HBCU still exist. The answers include:
- HBCUs are able to provide more leadership opportunities to black students.
- HBCUs have developed a culture of mutual care and contribution and community.
- HBCUs have grown in diversity over the years and decades. Almost a quarter of the students, these days, are non-black: non-black Hispanic, white, Asian or Pacific Islander.
Why am I talking about Historically Black Colleges and Universities instead of about today's famous birthday? Well, Charles H. Wesley (who was born on this date in 1891) attended a HBCU (Fisk), taught for decades at another HBCU (Howard), served as president of yet another HBCU (Wilberforce), and was the founding president of yet another HBCU (Central State University). So, yeah, Historically Black Colleges and Universities were really important in Wesley's life!! |
| (Above) Fisk University; (below) Howard Univeristy |
By the way, Wesley attended Yale University for his master's degree - and that Ivy League school is NOT an HBCU.
One thing I love about Wesley's career is that he wrote more than 15 books on African American history and political science. Now THAT's an important contribution!
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