Plight of America's Black Colleges

Report Outline
New Struggle for Survival
Evolution of Black Colleges
Closing the ‘Education Gap’
Special Focus

New Struggle for Survival

Shifting Pattern of Student Enrollment

To some of those present, the scene must have brought back memories of days gone by, of civil rights marches and fiery rhetoric, of blacks bringing their message to the nation's capital. But times have changed. The thousands of protesters who demonstrated at Black College Day in Washington last September were there not to denounce segregation but rather in a sense to demand it. The issue was preserving historically black schools, whose existence many believe is threatened by a “blind” commitment to integration and a growing neglect of the educational needs of blacks. Television journalist Tony Brown, who organized the rally, called the challenge to black higher education a clear and present danger. “Without black colleges and universities,” he said, “the country would lose more than half of its black college graduates.” Other speakers echoed Brown's concern. “We're here to save our kids' minds from extinction,” said longtime civil rights activist Dick Gregory.

Since 1970, the black student population at colleges across the nation has increased by 275 percent. According to the latest Census Bureau figures, blacks account for 10 percent of all college students, just slightly below their 13 percent overall proportion in the population. But the traditionally black colleges, which 20 years ago enrolled 96 percent of all black college students, now enroll fewer than 20 percent.

As more black students enter predominantly white institutions, hard-pressed black colleges face a struggle for survival. The integration of black schools by whites and the merger of black state colleges into statewide university systems are seen as threats to their unique identities. Black college officials also complain that the federal government has begun to designate less money for their schools at a time when many of them badly need such assistance to stay in operation.