bernard
THEE Realist
As slavery was outlawed in America, gaining a formal education became a matter of great importance to many Black citizens. As a result, within one generation more than one hundred Black colleges were established, most of them privately funded. Included in that number were almost 20 in Mississippi.
Many citizens are aware that Rust College, established in 1866; Tougaloo College, established in 1869; Alcorn State University, established in 1871; and Jackson State University established in 1877, have weathered the storms of time. Many are aware that Mississippi Valley State University, established in 1950, has weathered even more storms than the other four. Many citizens are also aware that they are all still facing various threats today.
What many citizens are not aware of, however, is that in Mississippi between the mid-1860s and today, eight Black colleges have been closed outright – Campbell College, Harris Junior College, Mary Holmes College, Natchez Junior College, Mississippi Industrial College, Okolona College, Prentiss Institute, and Saints Industrial Junior College. During that same stretch of time, two Black colleges have seen their status changed. Piney Woods School during the 1950s and 60s became a junior college but is now back to being just a secondary school. The Utica Junior College lost its status through a court decision and is now just the Utica Campus of Hinds Community College.
In case someone is counting, he/she can see that ten Black Mississippi colleges have bitten the dust; only six are left standing. The five senior colleges mentioned were joined by Coahoma Community College in 1949. It is no consolation that, of the ten that bit the dust, most were junior colleges. It is no consolation that, of those that bit the dust, only Harris Junior College and Utica Junior College were public institutions. The reality is that, overall, the Black community lost many institutions that had contributed and could today be contributing to the education of Black students, greatly uplifting the Black community. Many of these closed institutions have listed some of their noted alumni on their web pages.
jacksonadvocateonline.com
Many citizens are aware that Rust College, established in 1866; Tougaloo College, established in 1869; Alcorn State University, established in 1871; and Jackson State University established in 1877, have weathered the storms of time. Many are aware that Mississippi Valley State University, established in 1950, has weathered even more storms than the other four. Many citizens are also aware that they are all still facing various threats today.
What many citizens are not aware of, however, is that in Mississippi between the mid-1860s and today, eight Black colleges have been closed outright – Campbell College, Harris Junior College, Mary Holmes College, Natchez Junior College, Mississippi Industrial College, Okolona College, Prentiss Institute, and Saints Industrial Junior College. During that same stretch of time, two Black colleges have seen their status changed. Piney Woods School during the 1950s and 60s became a junior college but is now back to being just a secondary school. The Utica Junior College lost its status through a court decision and is now just the Utica Campus of Hinds Community College.
In case someone is counting, he/she can see that ten Black Mississippi colleges have bitten the dust; only six are left standing. The five senior colleges mentioned were joined by Coahoma Community College in 1949. It is no consolation that, of the ten that bit the dust, most were junior colleges. It is no consolation that, of those that bit the dust, only Harris Junior College and Utica Junior College were public institutions. The reality is that, overall, the Black community lost many institutions that had contributed and could today be contributing to the education of Black students, greatly uplifting the Black community. Many of these closed institutions have listed some of their noted alumni on their web pages.
OPINION: Mississippi’s historically Black colleges still need your help - Jackson Advocate
As slavery was outlawed in America, gaining a formal education became a matter of great importance to many Black citizens. As a result, within one generation more than one hundred Black colleges were established, most of them privately funded. Included in that number were almost 20 in...
jacksonadvocateonline.com