The existence of intuitions of higher education for Black people can be traced back to the mid-1830s, about three decades before the end of slavery, when Quakers in Philadelphia established the Institute for Colored Youth, which was created to educate free Blacks in their quest to become teachers. Many Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were founded by the American Missionary Association, which included such historic institutions as Atlanta University (1865), Fisk University (1866), Howard University (1867), Hampton Institute (1868), Tugaloo College (1869), and more. In 1871, Alcorn State College, now Alcorn State University, was founded. It was the first Black “land grant” college in America.
Today, there are 108 HBCUs. The state of Alabama has the most with 15. For several decades, there have been questions by some people – Black and White – whether there is still a need for Black colleges and universities in America. After all, segregation of the nation’s colleges and universities has been abolished – to a certain extent – for decades where African Americans can attend predominately White institutions of higher learning where they were once barred. read more…
