Category: facts

Each HBCU has it’s own uniqueness; characteristics that distinguish the nstitution from all of the others. The diversity of mission, purpose and programs at HBCUs are emphasized in their brand and should be celebrated.

For example, Morehouse College retains a reputation for what is called the “Morehouse Mystique”. It is the perception that Morehouse men are held to a certain standard. It is perceived that they do not use profanity, don’t smoke, they dress in business casual attire and know how to tie a bow tie. There is an expectation that Morehouse men will be well spoken, articulate and comfortable in leadership roles. These characteristics speak to a distinguished difference that Morehouse offers as an HBCU institution, and the story that conveys the uniqueness of their mission. In case you were wondering, here are just a few of Morehouse’s illustrious graduates:

In 2012, research showed that HBCU’s graduated nearly 23% of African-Americans who earn undergraduate degrees in the United States.

Specifically, “over half of all African-American professionals are graduates of HBCUs, nine of the top 10 colleges that graduate the most African-Americans who go on to earn PhDs are HBCUs, and more than 50% of the nation’s public school teachers and 70% of African-American dentists earned degrees at HBCUs.” (The Role of Historically Black Colleges or Universities in Today’s Higher Education Landscape, International Journal of Education, pg. 227)

The second week in September, each year is marked as National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week. The week pays tribute to their legacy of promoting equal opportunities for high-quality education. The week includes an annual conference in Washington DC where HBCUs are celebrated and acknowledged. The conference also recognizes select scholars and alumni from the HBCU community.

The majority of HBCUs were founded as private institutions until 1890 when the passage of the second Land-Grant Act required states to open their land-grant institutions to black students or allocate funding to black institutions that could serve as alternatives to white institutions. This resulted in 16 new HBCUs open only to people of color, most of them public institutions. The federal government’s Freedmen’s Bureau, black churches, and the American Missionary Association founded many of the additional institutions that would later become HBCUs.

When the U.S. Congress passed the Morrill Land- Grant Act in 1862 giving federal land to states for the purpose of opening colleges and universities to educate farmers, scientists, and teachers, only Alcorn State University in Mississippi was open to African-Americans and designated as a black land-grant college.