White in Historically Black College

Northstarmom
Wed, 08 Jun 2005 20:30:25 +0000

“Why are native-americans URMs?? the only reason there are not many of them in colleges is because there are few of them in the USA…”

They are URMs because a far smaller proportion of them are college bound than they are represented in the US population. About 1% of the US population is Native American. Hard to believe, but the proportion of NAs in virtually all colleges’ populations is far less than 1%. This even is true in most states and localities that have a higher proportion of NAs than exists in most parts of the country.

Meanwhile, even NAs are not shoo-ins for colleges. I know a NA with board scores of above 1400 who was rejected by one Ivy (though accepted by another).

About HBCUs: It is true that most (not all) accept a majority of applicants. Being white might actually mean that one would have a better chance of getting in than if one were black since whites are URMs on most HBCU campuses since at most HBCUs whites are in the minority.

For those who aren’t aware, people of all races are welcome at HBCUs, and as is the case with black students can earn need-based and merit scholarships. You don’t have to be black to attend or to fit in. Some HBCUs even have “minority” offices to offer support to white and other (nonblack) URMS .

HBCUs exist not because black people hated whites or wanted to self segregate. HBCUs exist because by laws and guidelines established by whites, blacks in many states and on many college campuses (including places like Princeton, which did not accept its first black student until 1945), black students could not attend colleges with white students nor could black faculty teach at mainstream colleges (or white faculty/students attend/teach at HBCUs). The situation at HBCUs was due to law, not campus guidelines.

After federally-mandated desegregation in 1965, HBCUS did not close down. I mention this because often posters somehow assume that once black students could go to mainstream campuses, HBCUs would automatically shut down as if no one cared about them any more.

Just as Brandeis remains even though colleges no longer have quotas against accepting Jewish students, just as Catholic universities and other religion-sponsored universities serve particular needs, HBCUs continue to exist because they continue to serve needs. This includes focusing on research and issues of particular interest to black students. It also includes providing a place where black students can attend college without having to worry in general whether they will not get certain opportunities due to their race.

Of course, nonblack students interested in black culture or advantages that particular HBCUs offer also benefit from attending HBCUs. This includes the benefit of attending a type of college well known for providing a nurturing, student-centered (as opposed to research-centered) environment.