Some Historically Black Colleges See Declining Enrollment

[Mr. SWAC]

HBCUs need to step up our game. We do need to broaden our horizons a little more. We need to recreate our purposes. IMO, HBCUs have achieved a lot of our current goals, but need to be more concerned about keeping up with society. No longer are we in 1950 where our parents could only attend HBCUs. Our recruitment needs to extend past all black high schools. We need to start vigorously recruiting other ethnic groups to our campuses. Of course, we will always keep our HERITAGE, but we've got to PROGRESS. I like what our new president said in a Huntsville Times newspaper article. He said, "I don't want Alabama A&M University to be on the cutting edge of technology. I want Alabama A&M University to cut the edge". As HBCUs, we've got to progress to the next level of our calling.

 

[Dr. Mac]

Exactly! I was about to make this very point. Why bother to invite a potental student to your campus if you have nothing to show for the visit? Let's be real for a moment, a person can get a so called "quality" education from ANY school in the country. But its the little things such as amenites that will prove to be the deciding factor as to where a person will attend school...and I can't say that I blame them. If a person is going to committ the next 4-5 years of his/her life to a school (especially if that person is leaving home) amenities or the "nice stuff" on campus is a huge factor.

While granted you can get an quality education at all schools, not all of them are of the same "quality". Different programs have different strengths and different weaknesses. And that's the case even though many of them are evaluated by the same accrediting agencies (and that's the factor that's most important - accreditation, but that's another topic). Accreditation reports provide that information if one takes the time to seek it out. Additionally, quality of the education includes the whole experience that aids in preparing the student for life.

One can focus on the ammendities and not see the other things that will impact the overall quality. For example, it was mentioned in an earlier post about instructors who can't speak the language clearly. That's real. You won't see that on campus tours or even hear about it from campus officials. At some schools, many of the classes that undergraduates take are taught by T.A's (teaching assistants who are graduate students - many (actually most) who have difficulty with the language). Many parents don't know this. I asked a question about the number of contact hours a student registered for the class has with the professor vs. the professor's T.A. on average during a campus tour and most of the parents had no clue as to what I was talking about. That an issue that affect's quality. (And by the way, I got a "sluff" answer to the question because the school official, an Associate Dean, didn't want to deal with it because he sensed why I asked it.) A lot of parents don't even ask questions about graduates of the programs they are interested in, how they are doing, what they make when leaving, etc.: a lot of that information is available as well (I "volunteered" a lot of that info to students and parents at a career fair that I attended yesterday). The ability of the instructors in other areas, the quality of the content itself, assignments, etc. are all things that affect quality. And then there are the other life-learning situations that are available or may not be available at some instituions that aid in the student's development. That's quality as well and has nothing to do with ammendities.

As I said before, I'm not advocating that all of our kids should go to one type of a school or another. I'm advocating that we need to make informed decisions. Granted, "quality" means different things to different people; but the bottomline for me is that you must first know your child, then spend time getting the info about the school and the info about the issues important to access the quality of the education the child is seeking to achieve to help the child make the best "right" decision about what's good for him/her.

Regards.

 

[northern tiger]

HBCUs need to step up our game. We do need to broaden our horizons a little more. We need to recreate our purposes. IMO, HBCUs have achieved a lot of our current goals, but need to be more concerned about keeping up with society. No longer are we in 1950 where our parents could only attend HBCUs. Our recruitment needs to extend past all black high schools. We need to start vigorously recruiting other ethnic groups to our campuses. Of course, we will always keep our HERITAGE, but we've got to PROGRESS. I like what our new president said in a Huntsville Times newspaper article. He said, "I don't want Alabama A&M University to be on the cutting edge of technology. I want Alabama A&M University to cut the edge". As HBCUs, we've got to progress to the next level of our calling.

How can you keep the heritage with a different population of students. Folks need to understand it's a mentality that we're battling, not economics. I just don't understand why a student would want to attend a school that their parents weren't accepted based on race. That's backwards. This alone would solve any perception issues. The children who can conveniently attend our institutions instead choose to attend a PWC are the real problem. Folks just always want to forget the past. :smh:

 

[Rab23]

My goal out of high school was to march in a good college band so that meant I wanted to go to an HBCU,however my moms asked me before I left are you sure you want to attend a HBCU? And my response at the time was sure who else can teach US but US. (This is in no way taking anything away from Alabama A&M University I loved and still love that place I grew up there mentally,personally and meet some great people and my eyes where opened up to the world there) However after my first semester there I saw the reason for that question she asked. I was there for three years however I was struggling and the atmosphere wasn't conducive for me. Not laying blame on anyone but I was forced to go home in my senior year financial aid issues yet again. From there I went back home and and transfered to Ksu a PWC with 18,000+ students and I making the best grades I ever did in college period. However my signature reads best of both worlds for that simple reason I learned to fight at AamU for everything, books, classes, money for school vs.Ksu you don't have to everything is kinda laid out for you. I learned what it means to fight period so when I leave college life I not worried about next level because I will be prepaired to go for it and not stop until I get it. When I have kids In all honesty I will be posing the question are you sure you want to go to an HBCU?

 

[SLT]

My goal out of high school was to march in a good college band so that meant I wanted to go to an HBCU,however my moms asked me before I left are you sure you want to attend a HBCU? And my response at the time was sure who else can teach US but US. (This is in no way taking anything away from Alabama A&M University I loved and still love that place I grew up there mentally,personally and meet some great people and my eyes where opened up to the world there) However after my first semester there I saw the reason for that question she asked. I was there for three years however I was struggling and the atmosphere wasn't conducive for me. Not laying blame on anyone but I was forced to go home in my senior year financial aid issues yet again. From there I went back home and and transfered to Ksu a PWC with 18,000+ students and I making the best grades I ever did in college period. However my signature reads best of both worlds for that simple reason I learned to fight at AamU for everything, books, classes, money for school vs.Ksu you don't have to everything is kinda laid out for you. I learned what it means to fight period so when I leave college life I not worried about next level because I will be prepaired to go for it and not stop until I get it. When I have kids In all honesty I will be posing the question are you sure you want to go to an HBCU?

Good post! :tup:

 

[Warndalyn]

no for academics... we didnt have any white athletic coaches and IF it was for athletics...whats the problem?

Some of you are so close minded..... always talking about "my baby will only attend a HBCU"... when you wont even send your kids to the local BLACK high school because you feel "they can get a better education in the white school"... that pisses me the hell off. Then get a lil bit of money... leave YOUR community and think "youve arrived" when you move to the white folks neighborhood... but then come on here preaching "HBCU or nothing".

well now you've made some good points in this post too...you are so right! :tup:

 

[ALPHA3]

How can you keep the heritage with a different population of students. Folks need to understand it's a mentality that we're battling, not economics. I just don't understand why a student would want to attend a school that their parents weren't accepted based on race. That's backwards. This alone would solve any perception issues. The children who can conveniently attend our institutions instead choose to attend a PWC are the real problem. Folks just always want to forget the past. :smh:

Your thinking is the direct opposite of what Dr.King was speaking about during his speech. The fact that black kids can attend these once forbidden schools shows just how far we as black folks have come. It shows that black kids can score a 26 on the ACT and get a free ride just like the white kids. It also shows we can excel in the classroom and end up on the Dean's List and graduate with high GPA's. I don't think people are forgetting the past, but becoming trailblazers for our future. Don't get me wrong some black folks are guilty of what you're saying, but for the most part many look at it as an acheivement.

 

[ALPHA3]

My goal out of high school was to march in a good college band so that meant I wanted to go to an HBCU,however my moms asked me before I left are you sure you want to attend a HBCU? And my response at the time was sure who else can teach US but US. (This is in no way taking anything away from Alabama A&M University I loved and still love that place I grew up there mentally,personally and meet some great people and my eyes where opened up to the world there) However after my first semester there I saw the reason for that question she asked. I was there for three years however I was struggling and the atmosphere wasn't conducive for me. Not laying blame on anyone but I was forced to go home in my senior year financial aid issues yet again. From there I went back home and and transfered to Ksu a PWC with 18,000+ students and I making the best grades I ever did in college period. However my signature reads best of both worlds for that simple reason I learned to fight at AamU for everything, books, classes, money for school vs.Ksu you don't have to everything is kinda laid out for you. I learned what it means to fight period so when I leave college life I not worried about next level because I will be prepaired to go for it and not stop until I get it. When I have kids In all honesty I will be posing the question are you sure you want to go to an HBCU?

I feel ya on this one!

 

[pbla]

I wonder why White students attend HBCU's?(UAPB's White enrollment is around 20%). Cheaper probally? White grads from UAPB are very successful as well as most Black UAPB graduates. Bottom line I think the people who have the opinion that you can get a "better education at a PWC" has issues with race. And that's from both Black and White. It's the parents attitudes and infuences from early on that affect some students decisions.It's not complicated at all really. The idea that White is better is prevalent today. Many do not want to admit it,they try to give these political correct reasons but if you really listen to them,they actually believe that White is better.Then again I ask the question,why do White students attend HBCU's graduate,and get good careers?

Most of the White students I know that graudated from UAPB don't have a probelm with race. You can tell from their from conversation that they are comfortable being around Black people. It's sad to say but the White grads from the HBCU's know the corporate game better than Black parents and students. And most of us know it but sometimes we forget it and that is "IT AIN'T WHAT YOU KNOW IT'S WHO YOU KNOW". And the other part of it is,IT'S NOT WHAT YOU ARE WORTH;IT'S WHAT YOU NEGOTIATE".

I'm with Dahill,most of our Black students,and parents got their heads up their azzes.

They still don't know what time it is. I have worked in the corporate world for over 22 years now, most in the banking industry. Trust me,if you are not in "THE CLIC" then you best move on to another job because you want even reach the glass ceiling. I have known people who graduated Georgia Tech, University of Alabama, University of Arkansas who had a hard time advancing because they were not in "THE CLIC" at work.

It does not matter where you grauate from but the marketing people at the PWC's will convince you other wise because reports of increase enrollments, and the percentage of students that graduate look good in the NEWSPAPER.
Again why do some White students attend HBCU's? Some because it's cheaper,but most of them are hip to the "corparate game and politics".

 

[Warndalyn]

I wonder why White students attend HBCU's?(UAPB's White enrollment is around 20%). Cheaper probally? White grads from UAPB are very successful as well as most Black UAPB graduates. Bottom line I think the people who have the opinion that you can get a "better education at a PWC" has issues with race. And that's from both Black and White. It's the parents attitudes and infuences from early on that affect some students decisions.It's not complicated at all really. The idea that White is better is prevalent today. Many do not want to admit it,they try to give these political correct reasons but if you really listen to them,they actually believe that White is better.Then again I ask the question,why do White students attend HBCU's graduate,and get good careers?

Most of the White students I know that graudated from UAPB don't have a probelm with race. You can tell from their from conversation that they are comfortable being around Black people. It's sad to say but the White grads from the HBCU's know the corporate game better than Black parents and students. And most of us know it but sometimes we forget it and that is "IT AIN'T WHAT YOU KNOW IT'S WHO YOU KNOW". And the other part of it is,IT'S NOT WHAT YOU ARE WORTH;IT'S WHAT YOU NEGOTIATE".

I'm with Dahill,most of our Black students,and parents got their heads up their azzes.

They still don't know what time it is. I have worked in the corporate world for over 22 years now, most in the banking industry. Trust me,if you are not in "THE CLIC" then you best move on to another job because you want even reach the glass ceiling. I have known people who graduated Georgia Tech, University of Alabama, University of Arkansas who had a hard time advancing because they were not in "THE CLIC" at work.

It does not matter where you grauate from but the marketing people at the PWC's will convice you other wise because reports of increase enrollments, and the percentage of students that graduate look good in the NEWSPAPER.
Again why do some White students attend HBCU's? Some because it's cheaper,but most of them are hip to the "corparate game and politics".

:tup:

Another great post...you are most definitely on point about "the clique" stuff. That's exactly how it is at my job...it's all about who you know and how well liked you are, which ultimately means, how much ass you kiss, basically.

 

[CriTAUcal]

"IT AIN'T WHAT YOU KNOW IT'S WHO YOU KNOW". And the other part of it is,IT'S NOT WHAT YOU ARE WORTH;IT'S WHAT YOU NEGOTIATE."

You got that right! :tup: :tup:

Networking is soooooooooooooooooo important!

 

[Croft84]

I wonder why White students attend HBCU's?(UAPB's White enrollment is around 20%). Cheaper probally? White grads from UAPB are very successful as well as most Black UAPB graduates. Bottom line I think the people who have the opinion that you can get a "better education at a PWC" has issues with race. And that's from both Black and White. It's the parents attitudes and infuences from early on that affect some students decisions.It's not complicated at all really. The idea that White is better is prevalent today. Many do not want to admit it,they try to give these political correct reasons but if you really listen to them,they actually believe that White is better.Then again I ask the question,why do White students attend HBCU's graduate,and get good careers?

Most of the White students I know that graudated from UAPB don't have a probelm with race. You can tell from their from conversation that they are comfortable being around Black people. It's sad to say but the White grads from the HBCU's know the corporate game better than Black parents and students. And most of us know it but sometimes we forget it and that is "IT AIN'T WHAT YOU KNOW IT'S WHO YOU KNOW". And the other part of it is,IT'S NOT WHAT YOU ARE WORTH;IT'S WHAT YOU NEGOTIATE".

I'm with Dahill,most of our Black students,and parents got their heads up their azzes.

They still don't know what time it is. I have worked in the corporate world for over 22 years now, most in the banking industry. Trust me,if you are not in "THE CLIC" then you best move on to another job because you want even reach the glass ceiling. I have known people who graduated Georgia Tech, University of Alabama, University of Arkansas who had a hard time advancing because they were not in "THE CLIC" at work.

It does not matter where you grauate from but the marketing people at the PWC's will convice you other wise because reports of increase enrollments, and the percentage of students that graduate look good in the NEWSPAPER.
Again why do some White students attend HBCU's? Some because it's cheaper,but most of them are hip to the "corparate game and politics".

Excellent points I totally agree with them. Man you know in this society if you dont know the right people you are going be in for a long career. This is sad but true.

 

[SAME OLD G]

Some of you are so close minded..... always talking about "my baby will only attend a HBCU"... when you wont even send your kids to the local BLACK high school because you feel "they can get a better education in the white school"... that pisses me the hell off.

Once you have kids (if you don't have any) your view on this may change.

Why would it piss you off when test scores throughout the country indicate that inner city schools test lower than those from suburban areas. Why the hell would a parent want to send his/her child to a lower performing school when they have the ability to send that child somewhere else. If you ask me that would be irresponsible of the parent.

 

[ALPHA3]

Once you have kids (if you don't have any) your view on this may change.

Why would it piss you off when test scores throughout the country indicate that inner city schools test lower than those from suburban areas. Why the hell would a parent want to send his/her child to a lower performing school when they have the ability to send that child somewhere else. If you ask me that would be irresponsible of the parent.

Being from New Orleans my parents had to deal with this same problem. They choose to send all of us to private school.

 

[Rab23]

I wonder why White students attend HBCU's?(UAPB's White enrollment is around 20%). Cheaper probally? White grads from UAPB are very successful as well as most Black UAPB graduates.
.

1. It's free anybody of a different nationality(non-black asian,white,latino,hispanic) is more than welcomed with a free ride/mostly free ride with perks. They want ot diversify the campus so everyone is welcomed.
2. It all boils down the what you put into it as well as the education you revcieve ofcourse.
3. Its usually cheaper

 

[DAHILL]

Once you have kids (if you don't have any) your view on this may change.

Why would it piss you off when test scores throughout the country indicate that inner city schools test lower than those from suburban areas. Why the hell would a parent want to send his/her child to a lower performing school when they have the ability to send that child somewhere else. If you ask me that would be irresponsible of the parent.

sorry but I disagree.... IF the SMART Blacks stayed at their neighborhood school, you wouldnt see this. All the so called smart kids are moving to the white schools (which arent in their district) leaving all the lower level kids in the inner city schools, thus test scores are dropping in the inner city schools... they are running away from a problem instead of facing it head on. We could say the same thing with PWCs and HBCU's also.. do you honestly think the average ACT score at a HBCU is higher than the average ACT score at a PWC? Its ALL contradiction.

Thats whats KILLING our inner city schools... that and that damn Minority/Majority bull****... That law needs to be ABOLISHED everywhere. Here in Huntsville (and alot of other places)... a Black student can transfer to a majority white school with no problem... and vice versa... its killing the majority Black schools because all the Black kids are transferring to white schools and NO whites are transferring to the all Black schools. We have 6 public high schools here... 3 Black, 1 mixed, 2 White. The 2 white schools are busting at the seems... overcrowded with over 2000 people... the 3 Black schools are struggling to keep 700-800 students while the schools are built for 2500 students... but they keep letting the Blacks transfer to the White schools... SHIFTING a problem. Common sense would tell you to start DENYING transfers, but its a LAW saying they have to take majority/minority transfers.

 

[ALPHA3]

sorry but I disagree.... IF the SMART Blacks stayed at their neighborhood school, you wouldnt see this. All the so called smart kids are moving to the white schools (which arent in their district) leaving all the lower level kids in the inner city schools, thus test scores are dropping in the inner city schools... they are running away from a problem instead of facing it head on. We could say the same thing with PWCs and HBCU's also.. do you honestly think the average ACT score at a HBCU is higher than the average ACT score at a PWC? Its ALL contradiction.

Thats whats KILLING our inner city schools... that and that damn Minority/Majority bull****... That law needs to be ABOLISHED everywhere. Here in Huntsville (and alot of other places)... a Black student can transfer to a majority white school with no problem... and vice versa... its killing the majority Black schools because all the Black kids are transferring to white schools and NO whites are transferring to the all Black schools. We have 6 public high schools here... 3 Black, 1 mixed, 2 White. The 2 white schools are busting at the seems... overcrowded with over 2000 people... the 3 Black schools are struggling to keep 700-800 students while the schools are built for 2500 students... but they keep letting the Blacks transfer to the White schools... SHIFTING a problem. Common sense would tell you to start DENYING transfers, but its a LAW saying they have to take majority/minority transfers.

You make some very good points, but each city faces different problems. Take New Orleans Public Schoold for instance. After the white flight era of the inner city happened, the level of public school education dropped dramatically. While New Orleans does have a few very good magnet schools(Ben Franklin, Lusher, etc.) the low-average inner city child cannot gain entrance into those magnet schools. Due to its low performing schools, the State took over hundred school from the local public school system.

 

[SAME OLD G]

sorry but I disagree.... IF the SMART Blacks stayed at their neighborhood school, you wouldnt see this. All the so called smart kids are moving to the white schools (which arent in their district) leaving all the lower level kids in the inner city schools, thus test scores are dropping in the inner city schools... they are running away from a problem instead of facing it head on. We could say the same thing with PWCs and HBCU's also.. do you honestly think the average ACT score at a HBCU is higher than the average ACT score at a PWC? Its ALL contradiction.

Thats whats KILLING our inner city schools... that and that damn Minority/Majority bull****... That law needs to be ABOLISHED everywhere. Here in Huntsville (and alot of other places)... a Black student can transfer to a majority white school with no problem... and vice versa... its killing the majority Black schools because all the Black kids are transferring to white schools and NO whites are transferring to the all Black schools. We have 6 public high schools here... 3 Black, 1 mixed, 2 White. The 2 white schools are busting at the seems... overcrowded with over 2000 people... the 3 Black schools are struggling to keep 700-800 students while the schools are built for 2500 students... but they keep letting the Blacks transfer to the White schools... SHIFTING a problem. Common sense would tell you to start DENYING transfers, but its a LAW saying they have to take majority/minority transfers.

So what does this have to do with HBCU's again?

 

[DAHILL]

So what does this have to do with HBCU's again?

take it for what you take it..... point is dont preach HBCU this... HBCU that when you wont even send your kids to a Black high school.

 

[Bengal E]

To me there are a lot of factors concerning this issue, once I held the militant viewpoint that some of you hold about this being a black vs. white issue, but now I see that not it at all. There are a lot of different factors, some of it may be as simple as folks don't know. Not everybody knows about HBCUs. Even some who attended have different viewpoints as adults. And definitely I would be very surprised if folks have the ideoligies of you, NT. Folks ain't going that deep. Mostly it's probably an economic issue. What you can afford and what will your child get out of it. It's just that simple. If GA Tech is giving my child a scholly and A&M ain't, then odds are he's going to GT. Because I can't afford to send him to A&M. And I'm an HBCU grad. Now imagine when this situation comes up in a 1st generation college household. They don't have any ties at all.

Bottom line is our universities need more exposure. We as caring alumni have to get out there and talk up our schools, bring our schools in and make people aware of our jewels. We're still sitting back on this "you're black and you should be at an HBCU attitude" or you're in a Black HS so come to a Black college mentality that we are overlooking a large segment of the population. We have to expand our parameters. We have to have the programs that are comparable to the PWC's (which we do) and we have to let the students and parents know that our ice is just as cold. In some cases that's a hard sell, in some it ain't. It's a problem when I'm in GA and I see more recruiters from the West than I do from a HBCU here in state and that's all over the country.

 

[unknown]

I understand both points, but how is it that once youve taken your child to the white high schools and let them get the notion that whiter is better you can think that they wont carry that notion over into college? Honestly, HBCUs were created because at that point in time blacks werent allowed to attend PWCs. However, times have changed and unless youd prefer to bring back segregation why is it not ok to attend a PWC? I attended both HBCU and PWC and honestly there are noticeable differences, but I wont get into that aspect.

I dont think ANYONE should attend a college simply because of race period. Isnt the purpose of college to attend the best one in your field of study? If I felt that Georgia Tech was the best engineering school for me being that I lived in Atlanta, should I move to Huntsville to attend AAMU or NC to attend NCA&T simply because they're HBCUs? Some of you want to have your cake and eat it too on this issue but I dont see anything wrong with attending a PWC at all. As long as your child knows that PWC doesnt necessarily equal better then they should have a choice on the institution they want to attend.

There are some instances where race shouldnt be used as a scapegoat anymore and this is one of them. Of course i'd never attend Ole Miss or South Carolina because they still openly embrace the rebel flag. However, I have no problem attending Georgia Tech, Georgia State or AIU. Times have changed and how can you even be a supporter of what Dr. King stood for when you want to go back to the negro only days? If and when I do have a child what I WILL do is explain the history of both PWC and HBCU and let them make their own decisions. What I WONT do is make them attend an HBCU simply because they're black.

 

[unknown]

To me there are a lot of factors concerning this issue, once I held the militant viewpoint that some of you hold about this being a black vs. white issue, but now I see that not it at all. There are a lot of different factors, some of it may be as simple as folks don't know. Not everybody knows about HBCUs. Even some who attended have different viewpoints as adults. And definitely I would be very surprised if folks have the ideoligies of you, NT. Folks ain't going that deep. Mostly it's probably an economic issue. What you can afford and what will your child get out of it. It's just that simple. If GA Tech is giving my child a scholly and A&M ain't, then odds are he's going to GT. Because I can't afford to send him to A&M. And I'm an HBCU grad. Now imagine when this situation comes up in a 1st generation college household. They don't have any ties at all.

Bottom line is our universities need more exposure. We as caring alumni have to get out there and talk up our schools, bring our schools in and make people aware of our jewels. We're still sitting back on this "you're black and you should be at an HBCU attitude" or you're in a Black HS so come to a Black college mentality that we are overlooking a large segment of the population. We have to expand our parameters. We have to have the programs that are comparable to the PWC's (which we do) and we have to let the students and parents know that our ice is just as cold. In some cases that's a hard sell, in some it ain't. It's a problem when I'm in GA and I see more recruiters from the West than I do from a HBCU here in state and that's all over the country.

Thats another good point. Like i've said 1000's of times, unless you go to a predominately black high school or have parents that went to an HBCU, 9 times out of 10 you are NOT going to be advised or even educated about HBCUs in the first place. My high school was about 60% black or so but even though most of the staff was black I would say 5% of them actually attended an HBCU. And in Georgia if you choose to attend college in-state and have a 3.0 GPA you get awarded the Hope Scholarship. HBCUs in GA are Spelman, Morehouse, Clark Atlanta, FVSU, Albany State and Savannah State.

Even with Pell the first 3 are out of the question for many because the tuition is unaffordable. I went to a game at FVSU and the housing there was atrocious and its in the middle of nowhere. And at the same time you have Georgia State right downtown with 20,000 students, half of which are black, and with Hope and Pell your tuition is pretty much covered. It's not that difficult to think of what that decision will be for many. Also some HBCUs have white students because its either free or NEARLY free for them to attend. When I was at State that was an issue on the yard of how some white students would come simply because it was free for them.

 

[SAME OLD G]

take it for what you take it..... point is dont preach HBCU this... HBCU that when you wont even send your kids to a Black high school.

So what if there are no black high schools in my area, does that mean I can't send my kids to a HBCU?

This makes no sense to me. Help me to see the light.

 

[CriTAUcal]

I won't make my child attend a HBCU, but my husband and I are going to strongly encourage it, and we will expose him to black college life.
People do have to do what's best for them, and that's cool.
But as for "me and my house," we're encouraging HBCUs for the undergraduate experience.

And as far as education on the elementary/high school level, I'm pro public school all the way--- as long as the school district is great. I don't care if it's an all black school or mixed. Because I plan to expose my son to much more than what's at school and at home. I have a responsibility as a parent to raise a man who can stand on his own two feet, good make judgements (even concerning college) and not be sheltered to what's in the world. Many of those teachings will start at HOME, so it doesn't matter if he goes to a white or black school as a child.

Higher education hits more closer to home for me. I do care where he goes for college. I have NO problem admitting that I'm a racist when it comes to our HBCUs versus the PWCs. I am. I would MUCH RATHER see my people at our schools (esp. high intellects and star athletes). I LOVE my black schools, the rich heritage that comes along with it and how many of us can still overcome adversity on a college campus.

 

[unknown]

So what if there are no black high schools in my area, does that mean I can't send my kids to a HBCU?

This makes no sense to me. Help me to see the light.

I'm sure you know thats not the point he's trying to make. What he's saying is when you live in a black school district and opt to send your child across town to the white school instead, there lies the problem.