How can we assimilate HBCUs in the modern context? HBCUs are approaching a cross roads in terms or relevance in today’s society. The purpose they once served is becoming somewhat outdated. The role they once played was could be viewed as progressive and evolutionary, but now they can be described as too conservative and unnecessary in some aspects. Because of this phenomena it was affected many different aspects of HBCUs and has led to a decline in the relevance of them in today’s society.
Through comprehensive research and social commentary from peers and professors we have identified some core issues that HBCUs may face and how we can address them to adapt HBCUs to fit the modern societal construct. We examined several academic journals …show more content…
We will use the research we have gathered through interviewing and academic journals to support the significance of these issues and how to resolve them. Before we address these issues we must first understand the initial purpose of HBCUs in the historical context to be able understand they role they will play in the future.
History
To understand the future of historically black colleges and universities in the modern context we must understand what made them relevant in the historical perspective. Then we can understand what made them successful during those times and adapt our plan to solve issues in the modern context to make their more relevant in today’s society.
The first HBCUs were established in 1837 toward the end of slavery. In the beginning HBCUs main purpose was to give African-Americans an opportunity to acquire a higher form of education in a racially divided America. These schools were an absolute necessitybecause of the institutionaloppressive attitude of public universities during the time. Land grants were granted too many HBCUs in the south during this time to establish schools for African American higher …show more content…
HBCUs enrollment has been on a steady decline according to recent research. One of the biggest threats to HBCUs is the treats of mainstream universities and the opportunities they provide. Today’s society is more tolerant of racial and cultural differences, so the opportunities that weren’t available to our students in the past are now.
In addition to declined enrollment, the scholastic opportunities of HBCUs are not what they once were. The perception of the “black” degree does not have the same appeal as it once did. There is also a sense of black cultural nationalism at HBCUs that promotes black progressivism and pride. From outside looking in, this can alienate students of non-black descent or even students who don’t share the same sentimentality of theses HBCUs. Today, there are many more black middle class families that raise children in more diverse settings. It may be difficult for children of these settings to embrace such strong black conservatism because they were not raised in an environment that emphasized African-American
Through comprehensive research and social commentary from peers and professors we have identified some core issues that HBCUs may face and how we can address them to adapt HBCUs to fit the modern societal construct. We examined several academic journals …show more content…
We will use the research we have gathered through interviewing and academic journals to support the significance of these issues and how to resolve them. Before we address these issues we must first understand the initial purpose of HBCUs in the historical context to be able understand they role they will play in the future.
History
To understand the future of historically black colleges and universities in the modern context we must understand what made them relevant in the historical perspective. Then we can understand what made them successful during those times and adapt our plan to solve issues in the modern context to make their more relevant in today’s society.
The first HBCUs were established in 1837 toward the end of slavery. In the beginning HBCUs main purpose was to give African-Americans an opportunity to acquire a higher form of education in a racially divided America. These schools were an absolute necessitybecause of the institutionaloppressive attitude of public universities during the time. Land grants were granted too many HBCUs in the south during this time to establish schools for African American higher …show more content…
HBCUs enrollment has been on a steady decline according to recent research. One of the biggest threats to HBCUs is the treats of mainstream universities and the opportunities they provide. Today’s society is more tolerant of racial and cultural differences, so the opportunities that weren’t available to our students in the past are now.
In addition to declined enrollment, the scholastic opportunities of HBCUs are not what they once were. The perception of the “black” degree does not have the same appeal as it once did. There is also a sense of black cultural nationalism at HBCUs that promotes black progressivism and pride. From outside looking in, this can alienate students of non-black descent or even students who don’t share the same sentimentality of theses HBCUs. Today, there are many more black middle class families that raise children in more diverse settings. It may be difficult for children of these settings to embrace such strong black conservatism because they were not raised in an environment that emphasized African-American