Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Black Colleges
Kenneth Jost writes an article titled: Black Colleges, Do They Still Have an Important Role? that questions whether historically black colleges should still exist as they can be viewed that they "are academically inferior, promote segregation, and do not prepare students for living in a diverse society." He offers statistics that claim that graduation rates of African Americans are much lower at black colleges than traditional colleges: % of black students who graduate at predominately white schools, highest=93%, lowest=59%; highest percentage at predominately black schools=76%, lowest=6%. W. Connerly, Chairman of the American Civil Rights Institute, gives that, "racial diversity is an intrinsic good that should be supported on every campus," and "historically black colleges are directly opposed to diversity; their entire reason for being is to not be diverse." In contrast, W. H. Gray, Pres and CEO of the United Negro College Fund disagrees and believes that black colleges are vital to the country, states, "the role of historically black colleges in this commonwealth is similar to that of Notre Dame (catholic), Brandeis (Jewish), Smith (women), and HINU (American INdians), these institutions provide access to choice to minorities. This is an interesting yet tough debate for me, I don't know if I believe that black colleges "promote segregation", as I have never thought of it that way, but it certainly might be so. I know this is anecdotal, but my stepmother attended and received a degree from FAM and she stated that she actually felt unwelcome at times by faculty and peers alike. I think that institutions of higher learning should not promote racism, even indirectly. There are so many stressors intertwined in the college experience that acceptance should not be an issue. Besides, to be educated is to see past such boundaries, so if the foundation of a college is promoting enrolling persons of a select nationality, it is not living up to its accreditation.
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The term Black College wouldn't give me the thought of diversity. It is a known fact that African Americans aren't as priviledged as white students. I was under the impression that the "Black College" was an attempt to change that common statistic not promote diversity. This is where studies might get a bit warped. If graduation rates at these other colleges are higher for blacks it is only because these blacks have more education and possibly more money. Naturally the graduation rates for smarter students would be better. By any means these "Black Colleges" are helping the society by allowing a race that fell behind due to slavery catch up to everyone else and not just to create a few rich or educated people, but on a rather large scale.
>Kenneth Jost writes an article titled: Black Colleges, Do They Still Have an Important Role?
If you refer to a specific article, you should link to it so others can read it and make up their own mind.
>they can be viewed that they "are academically inferior...He offers statistics that claim that graduation rates of African Americans are much lower at black colleges than traditional colleges: % of black students who graduate at predominately white schools, highest=93%, lowest=59%; highest percentage at predominately black schools=76%, lowest=6%.
But these aren't actually graduate rates that have any meaning. First off, the accurate comparison would be between black students at the predominantly white schools vs. at predominantly black schools. Comparing black students at predominantly black schools to all students at predominantly white schools makes no sense in this case.
Average rates are how you would compare these types of schools. Does he include the averages? And does he control for socioeconomic status? If not, then these numbers are not only misleading, they are dishonest. I wonder why he leaves the more important numbers out. Is it because maybe they disagree with his conclusion?
>W. Connerly, Chairman of the American Civil Rights Institute, gives that
Connerly is very biased and is not approaching this from anything close to a neutral point of view.
>"historically black colleges are directly opposed to diversity; their entire reason for being is to not be diverse."
This is total nonsense. Their reason for being was to offer educational opportunities to a group that was not allowed to go to white colleges. They are not opposed to diversity and don't have segregationist policies for students or for faculty.
>I know this is anecdotal, but my stepmother attended and received a degree from FAM and she stated that she actually felt unwelcome at times by faculty and peers alike.
The same is often said of black students at places like FSU.
>so if the foundation of a college is promoting enrolling persons of a select nationality, it is not living up to its accreditation.
If the goal were simply "diversity in college," you might have a point here. But that isn't the goal of any of these colleges (or any college for that matter). The goal is diversity in the workforce and diversity in economic earning power. The goal is societal and if HBUCs see that there are still problems with black success at predominantly white colleges, then they should be looking to balance that.
I think black colleges do play an important role? they don't promote segregation, college is college there is no black or white college you pick the school that will give you the best education.
Well i feel that there shouldn't be black colleges. Where else are there only one race colleges? Do you see "Chinese" or "Polinesian" colleges premoted? No! So why should there be black colleges? With society today (even tho there is still racisim) people of all races should attend school together where there is an equil education oppertunity.
>brittaniyork: Well i feel that there shouldn't be black colleges. So why should there be black colleges?
Well there is no written rule that says that anyone cannot attent HBCUs, and some do but the fact is that not many do attend.
>Where else are there only one race colleges? Do you see "Chinese" or "Polinesian" colleges premoted? No!
What about Notre Dame (catholic)or BYU? (mormon)
>kenneth: But these aren't actually graduate rates that have any meaning. First off, the accurate comparison would be between black students at the predominantly white schools vs. at predominantly black schools.
I wrote: "statistics that claim that graduation rates of African Americans are much lower at black colleges than traditional colleges"--meaning black students at pre-dom white vs. black students at pre-dom white colleges, which is what the article provides, sorry if it did not read that way.
>Where else are there only one race colleges?
HBUCs are not black-only. Many students of other races attend them. The term "black colleges" is misleading and they aren't really called that by anyone anymore. They are referred to as HBUCs (historically black universities/colleges) because at one point they were all-black or mostly all black. That was not their choice, it was the choice of white people who excluded them from white colleges. Your argument technically is "Well, I know white people used to ban you from our colleges and so you created your own colleges to fill the need, but since most white people aren't racist anymore, you can't keep those colleges, despite their history, tradition and important place in the black community." It's not a very good argument.
>What about Notre Dame (catholic)or BYU? (mormon)
There are also women's colleges, Christian colleges and other colleges for various minority groups. Some of these colleges, such as Bob Jones University (a Christian school), exclude people who disagree with their beliefs.
>I wrote: "statistics that claim that graduation rates of African Americans are much lower at black colleges than traditional colleges"
Sorry, you typed it right, I misread that. That criticism is addressed then, but if the others aren't, my overall comment about the meaninglessness of the numbers is still valid.
"Besides, to be educated is to see past such boundaries, so if the foundation of a college is promoting enrolling persons of a select nationality, it is not living up to its accreditation." You said it all when you made that comment. I definetely agree. But, also feel that anywhere you could possibly go in the entire world, there are always going to be people around you that you feel don't want you there. Everyone that meets you is not going to build you up and wish the best for you. I know it's easier said than done, but learning to ignore those people and do what you have to do regardless is part of becoming an adult.
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