Consider This from NPR High profile grads and a yearning for respite have helped boost HBCU applications
Aug 13, 2022
Walter Kimbrough, former president of Philander Smith College and Dillard University, discusses the remarkable resurgence of HBCU applications, attributing this to increased funding and high-profile alumni like Kamala Harris. He emphasizes HBCUs as safe havens for Black students during a time of heightened racism. Personal stories illustrate the deep-rooted aspirations of families for a supportive and culturally rich educational environment. Kimbrough also explores how recent social movements have sparked renewed interest in these institutions as vital spaces for growth and community.
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Weber's Pride
- Paulina Weber, a Dillard University student, cried tears of joy watching Kamala Harris's inauguration.
- She felt pride as a Black woman seeing a fellow HBCU graduate become Vice President.
Rise and Fall of HBCU Attendance
- HBCUs were initially founded to provide Black Americans with higher education opportunities denied to them elsewhere.
- While once over 90% of Black graduates came from HBCUs, that number declined after desegregation.
Shifting Motivations for HBCU Attendance
- The Black Lives Matter movement and rising anti-Black racism have prompted a surge in HBCU applications.
- Students now choose HBCUs for safety and cultural affirmation, a shift from past necessity.