Historically black colleges and universities offer a great thing to black students, a higher education. In today's society, it requires a college education for an individual to ensure himself a comfortable life. Many African Americans are struggling with poverty and the only way they can break through is by a higher education. But I don't think these schools are important or in the best interest to black students because they can't fully prepare young students with the broad cultural interaction they must face after graduation.
At historically black colleges you don't get to meet and interact with people of other races and cultures. A college campus is one of the largest social grounds in the world. Limiting it to just one group of people weakens the college experience. Meeting different people is one of the great things to look forward to in college; it should not be lessened in any way. College graduates will encounter many cultures and ethnicities other than African American out in the workforce.
Many historically black colleges and universities have been founded since the Reconstruction Period and Jim Crow era. These centers of learning have helped many African Americans rise above poverty and discrimination by rewarding an education to the black entrepreneur. These colleges gave our forefather's a chance at a better life and I'm grateful for that. But that was over a century ago. Blacks had to have their own schools and colleges back then because of the segregation throughout the United States. Only until the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was school segregation abolished. Since then the doors of many colleges have opened to minorities allowing them to interact with a diverse ethnic group, which prepares them for the real world. There are far more colleges available to black students today, than one hundred years ago. Because of this, the need for historically black schools is disappearing.
I have researched many historically black colleges and found that most are private schools with higher tuition costs than that of a community or state college. For example two well known black colleges, Hampton University and Morehouse College; both cost a minimum annual tuition of $25,000. Many young black students are in financial need and cannot afford high tuition costs. What is the importance of an expensive historical black college where as a low tuition at a community or state college will suffice?
My personal feelings about today's black historical colleges are that they are keeping black students in a state of segregation. In these colleges lingers the spirit of the Jim Crow days, which is not inspiring or desirable.
I don't think that historically black colleges and universities are important to today's black students because of the lack of cultural diversity. It's very important to be well rounded in all areas of life. The opportunity to interact with others races is a learning experience that prepares one for the real world. There are vast options of colleges to choose from. Don't let your race limit your boundaries.
