| It is 2020. Technology reigns supreme. Adam | | | | HBCUs have been riddled with mismanagement, |
| West stands as a great American hero. West is | | | | declining enrollments, deterioting facilities, |
| young, mobile, and intuitive. His scientific mind has | | | | inadequate funding, lack of alumni support, and a |
| unlimited potential. Many wonder how such an | | | | lack of clear vision. |
| intellectual could come from a heritage academy, | | | | The Real Matter |
| a descendant of historically black colleges. West | | | | Demographic shifts are transforming our society |
| understands the reason. It came from his roots. | | | | from an assimilationist to a multicultural society. |
| The Situation | | | | According to the US Census projection, whites will |
| We came from everywhere. We arrived in | | | | make up barely 50 percent of the future |
| Washington State. It was culture shock for many. | | | | population. If students attend schools without any |
| There was a 1% black population. Our recruiters | | | | diversity, will they be at a future disadvantage? |
| celebrated us. Yet, some people feared us. We | | | | Surprisingly, HBCUs' populations are becoming |
| were young, energetic, and confident. However, | | | | more diverse. Nationally, white enrollment at |
| urban legends persisted. We weren't smart | | | | HBCUs has climbed about 30 percent in the past |
| enough or good enough to be there. Some black | | | | several decades. Bluefield State, a HBCU, is |
| elitists, who hailed from white institutions, | | | | predominately white (91%) now. The reason |
| appeared to despise us. In spite of it all, we | | | | students are selecting HBCUs is simple. Students |
| succeeded in this situation. As a Southern | | | | now realize HBCUs are less expensive, have |
| University graduate, I had learned adaptability skills. | | | | smaller classrooms, and provide a good education. |
| In fact, we were given an unspoken mandate to | | | | As companies exist in hypercompetition, can we |
| be the very best in our fields. As a graduate of | | | | afford to leave anyone behind? Knoxville needs |
| different academic institutions, I feel destined to | | | | future workers. Vision-minded HBCUs can be a |
| examine the future of black colleges. Let's closely | | | | catalyst. Researchers Jorge Jeria and Gener Roth |
| analyze this matter. | | | | claim that black students attending HBCUs are |
| A Historical Perspective | | | | more likely to complete a degree than those |
| Currently, there are only 105 historically black | | | | attending predominately white institutions. As an |
| colleges and universities (HBCUs). According to | | | | adjunct Knoxville College (KC) professor, I teach |
| one study, HBCUs make up just 3 percent of the | | | | multicultural students from such areas as South |
| nation's academic institutions, yet 24 percent of all | | | | America, Japan, and Africa. There are highly |
| US black students start at one. The principal | | | | capable faculty and staff. Despite many pressing |
| mission is to educate black students. According to | | | | issues, KC provides personal and relevant learning. |
| United Negro College Fund, over half of all black | | | | In fact, small colleges may represent a model for |
| professions are HBCU graduates. Nine of the top | | | | future academic institutions. Today's students |
| ten colleges that graduate black PhDs are HBCUs. | | | | want an intimate and engaging environment, not a |
| Tennessee State University (TSU) is the number | | | | sterile one. If HBCUs want to survive, they must |
| #1 institution for producing black baccalaureates in | | | | have a global vision with key alliances. For |
| agricultural related fields. National rankings praise | | | | example, Vanderbilt University and TSU have a |
| HBCUs like Spellman College. HBCU graduates | | | | strategic relationship. There are other similar |
| include Oprah Winfrey (TSU), Martin Luther King | | | | arrangements. Darwinism will continue to exist. |
| Jr. (Morehouse), Alex Haley (Alcorn State), Jerry | | | | HBCUs that manage to adapt will survive. |
| Rice (Mississippi Valley), P. Diddy (Howard), and | | | | However, those that fail will exist in Black History |
| Thurgood Marshall (Lincoln) to name a few. | | | | trivia. Clearly, globalization will awake us all from |
| Initiated by America's segregated practices, some | | | | our social complacency. I pray that it isn't too late. |
