In an address, President Joe Biden marked the annual celebration of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, emphasizing their vital role in shaping American society and promoting educational equity. His message was part of the National HBCU Week Conference in Philadelphia.
“Delaware State is the best HBCU in America,” said President Biden. The president reminisced about his early political career at Delaware State, where the institution welcomed and encouraged him, ultimately leading him to become one of the youngest U.S. senators in history.
Biden took a moment to express his heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Tony Allen, a Delaware State graduate who now serves as the university’s president, highlighting their long-standing friendship and collaborative efforts.
Continuing his address, Biden celebrated HBCUs for their resilience and commitment to providing quality education despite a history rooted in adversity. “More than 180 years under the shadow of slavery and Jim Crow, HBCUs instilled a sense of purpose and freedom, a commitment to make a difference for all their students, to lift up not just yourselves but others along the way,” he said. He stressed that educational access should empower students to pursue their talents.
Biden-Harris Administration’s HBCU Investments
The president also highlighted his administration’s initiatives to support HBCUs, including significant financial investments totaling $17 billion—the largest commitment by any administration to date. “HBCUs are engines of economic mobility in our country, raising standards of living for everybody,” he noted. He cited statistics that reveal HBCUs produce a substantial percentage of the nation’s Black professionals across various fields, including engineering, education, and healthcare.
Biden reaffirmed his commitment to diversifying workforce opportunities through initiatives such as the Chips and Science Act, which aims to create pathways for students from HBCUs to enter high-demand sectors like technology and engineering.
The U.S. Department of Education also announced grants for eight HBCUs under the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program and the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program. These programs aim to increase and retain well-prepared teachers from diverse backgrounds in underserved schools.
Additionally, $1.5 million will be awarded to establish a National Technical Assistance Center focused on diversifying the workforce serving children with disabilities. A new collaboration called the Executive HBCU Space Lab aims to boost HBCU engagement in space-related federal contracting.
Biden expressed optimism for the future of HBCUs and their students. “We can do anything we want to do when we do it together,” he said.
Shifting focus, Biden addressed the recent attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in Florida, commending the Secret Service for their swift action and emphasizing his condemnation of political violence. “In America, we resolve our differences peacefully at the ballot box, not at the end of a gun,” said Biden.
