10 Things Every Child Should Know About hbcus”

“If Black parents don’t introduce accredited HBCU's to our children, then who will?” -Anonymous-

1) HBCU is an acronym for (H) istorically (B) lack (C) ollege and (U) niversity. Famous people who graduated from HBCUs are Booker T. Washington (Hampton University), Dr. Martin Luther King (Morehouse College), Keisha Knight Pulliam (Spelman), Common (Florida A&M), Anika Noni Rose (Florida A&M), Mathew Knowles (Fisk University), Spike Lee (Morehouse College), Phyllicia Rashad (Howard University), Debbie Allen (Howard University), Yolanda Adams (Texas Southern University), Tom Joyner (Tuskegee University), Darrell Armstrong (Fayetteville State University), Donde West (Virginia Union University) and many, many others

2) There are over 100 HBCUs in the United States. Most are 4 year private but there are also 16 two-year schools from which to choose. Some students have found that by starting at a two-year school they can fulfill initial requirements yet still focus on graduating with a 4-year degree. HBCUs are located within 20 states and the District of Columbia (AL, AR, CA, DE, DC, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MI, MS, MO, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, VA, and WV as well as the Virgin Islands)

3) The first HBCU to be established was Cheyney University in Pennsylvania and was founded in 1837

4) The first HBCU owned and operated by African Americans was Wilberforce University in Ohio which was founded in 1856. It was named for William Wilberforce who first led efforts to abolish slavery (http://www.amazinggracemovie.com/) and (http://www.theamazingchange.com/whois.html)

5) In 2001, the total economic impact of the nation’s HBCUs was $10.2 billion which would rank 232nd on the Forbes Fortune 500 list of the United States’ largest companies.

6) James Weldon Johnson graduated from HBCU Atlanta University and wrote the words to the famous Lift Every Voice and Sing along with his brother John R. Johnson who also attended HBCU Atlanta University (http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/i/liftevry.htm). Today the university is named Clark Atlanta University.

7) Most HBCUs play in one of 4 athletic conferences SWAC/MEAC/CIAA/SIAC and the big games are called black college classics such as Bayou Classic, Florida Classic, Turkey Day Classic, Circle City Classic, and other events that showcase outstanding bands, Greek Step Shows and celebrations.

8) More than 50% of the nation’s African American public school teachers and 70% of African American dentists earned degrees at HBCUs.

9) Anyone of any race or color is welcome to attend a HBCU. Originally the HBCUs were established because the newly freed slaves were not allowed to study in any other college or university. Today, many talented and bright minds all come together on the HBCU campus and are able to study in an environment where color and nationality differences are often celebrated.

10) The 4 HBCU medical schools are MEHARRY MEDICAL COLLEGE (TN), MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (GA), CHARLES R. DREW UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND SCIENCE (CA), and HOWARD UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MEDICINE (DC). HBCU Xavier University is #1 nationally in placing African-Americans into medical school. HBCU Howard University is #1 in graduating Phds.