Johnson 1
Crystal Johnson
Professor Michael King
History222
July 25, 2014

The Necessity of Historically Black Colleges and Universities for African Americans

Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have come a long way in African American history. The hunger of education by African Americans started in the early 1800s; these campuses have grown to universities and have made astounding contributions to American society. HBCUs should be given credit for the countless number of experts who now shape our society. HBCUs have achieved by educating African Americans easier and giving black Americans a very necessary weapon- Education. Because we live in an integrated society, some see HBCUs as a constant gesture of segregation. This paper will explore the absolute necessity for HBCUs especially for African Americans. HBCU’s History
Prior to the civil war, there was no such thing as higher learning for Negro students. Those who received that form of education did so informally. Even with the reconstruction of the south, things started to change but very slowly. Some of the first learning academies where founded by white philanthropist only willing to teach limited skills to a small number of African American students. More institutions were opened after the Civil war for the newly freed slaves with the help of religious missionary groups and the Freedman’s bureau. The first HBCUs were created with no financial assistance from the state government. Federal laws were established to fund black colleges such as the National Land- Grant Colleges Act of 1862 and the First Morrill Act which aided in opening the first public black college Alcorn College in 1871. Initially HBCU’s were created to address the needs of Negro students and to teach them how to thrive in their communities. The number of African American students in pursuance of postsecondary education increased dramatically. Johnson 2

Modern day HBCUs
For the past 20 plus decades, HBCUs have played an important role in educating African American people. Despite their