On May 13, 2016, I will be a graduate of The Lincoln University, the Nation’s first historically black college and university (HBCU). I take pride in the legacy, the history and the excellence which surrounds all HBCUs. If I had the choice to pick another university or institution, such as a PWI (predominately white institution), I would happily decline. My HBCU is a tremendous blessing to me. While HBCUs provide students with a grand experience and journey in respect to self, history, academia, passion and culture, does this give me the right to discredit the “blackness” or the experience of my black comrades at PWIs because they didn’t choose a "black space"? Or better yet, does this give my counterparts a right to discredit or belittle the validity of my academia or experience because we didn’t choose a predominately white or more ethnic space?
Black excellence is important. Black excellence is not synonymous with HBCU though. HBCUs have been groundbreaking in fashion, in pride and in creative and professional culture. As a woman proud of her background and history, I am deeply invested in the betterment of my people and cannot discourage other black men and women from attending a post-secondary institution. Whether it is a PWI or a HBCU, I must continuously encourage all black students striving for excellence. It is also just as important for black students at a PWI not to be fooled by the name or the fame of an institution. There is an immense quality of richness in our academics rooted in professors who strive to see us. HBCU students strive, not because we’re black but because we’re humans who deserve to flourish just as much and WE DO.
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Randomly and annually, it seems that the HBCU vs. PWI discussion appears on the most annoying parts of our timelines. The source of the issue: someone said the wrong thing about someone’s institution. Cool. It’s a constant back and forth of stereotypes, myths, and potentially sound arguments in defense of HBCUs, PWIs and why we can’t all just get along. And why can’t we all just get along? Why can’t we accept that in life, specific people require specific experiences which cater exactly to who they are as individuals? College is no different. HBCUs and PWIs both offer their students what the other does not. That’s fine. Each of us have different goals, different feelings and different passions that our University should attend to; hence, why we picked it.
It could or would be better if the HBCU vs. PWI argument was a sibling rivalry, which is something that HBCUs share. For instance, the rivalry between The Lincoln University vs. Cheyney University. Who’s the first HBCU? Lincoln University. Sorry, Cheyney! Yet, instead, it becomes a matter of spewing hate and questioning the validity of people’s blackness or genius. It’s unfair. Everyone who goes to an HBCU isn’t a black revolutionary nor is every black student at a PWI a sell-out and unsure of their history. All HBCUs aren’t party schools, and, heads up, just because it’s an HBCU does not mean it’s not diversified. Debunk that myth.
Though I am the first to admit that I am truly an advocate for HBCUs, I am also the first to admit that black excellence can come from anyone or anything at any institution. It’s important that we remember the legacy of HBCUs and still fight to keep that legacy striving. Most HBCUs are underfunded and face closure each year. Therefore, we must advocate for them. But this does not mean we should destroy or belittle the work of our counterparts at other institutions. What matters is that we continuously push boundaries, set standards and create excellence. So, HBCU or PWI, is it worth the discussion?
