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whatz alllyuh thought on this? i personally glad i didn't go 2 1 (yes, unfair 2 make a decision without xperiencing 1st), but even so i never could get in2 the idea of it. probably bcuz i like diversity in my life. other folks agreed (blacks) it is not realistic since the world is a mix up place. did any1 here go 2 1 and what was u'r xperience? i wonder if non african students applied would they be denied entrance bcuz of skin tone (hmmm)? if so, is it safe 4 several institutions to kick up 4 all white, all puerto rican, all so and so?

salt

Well, Salt, I attended one, Fayetteville State University (in North Carolina), for about a year and I hated it. It wasn't ALL black (technically), but at the time, the statistics said it was 99% black and the other 1% didn't live on campus anyway.
I encountered more bigotry and ignorance regarding my nationality there than anywhere else I've ever been in the states.
Instead of embracing all cultures dealing with the African diaspora (at least), it appeared to me, the faculty only wanted to educate and embrace African-American culture and history...
I agree with you 100% and I bet Black Americans would be all upset if they even considered having an ALL white, asian, latino, etc. university...

Sorry to say, but I never considered attending a Black college. Usually these schools have less resources than "white" schools and frankly I wanted to get every possible resource for my $$$. Simple things as computers, library resources, etc. these schools do not have. And when it comes to funding and contributions they do not have access. Most of my friends- very, very bright people (who were in the top of their classes) who went to Black schools, got caught up in the partying and other foolishness and eventually had to come back home. Others who were doing what they were supposed to left because they could not pay and the schools had nothing to offer. And yes, at Black colleges there tends to be the interracial issues and socio-economic issues. I'm light, you're dark, I'm well-to-do, you're not! Issues that you don't expect to find at these schools, are very rampant.

I completely agree with you on this matter. In addition, I find that at all black colleges/universities there are too many of the minority to compete for scholarships. Moreover, diversity is a part of life, I find that my friends that have attended these schools find it harder to coexist in Corporate America and tend to have a one-sided view on issues. Lastly, compared to other schools, all black colleges tend to focus on other things other than the priority of education, ie. sports, and greek life.

black colleges perpetuates and emphasizes all the stereotypes about blacks

i agree wid ya salty. does not make sense to attend all black school when the work world and your community is not all black

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Okay back to the post, I was always intrigued with HBCUs because of their social atmosphere (Greek life, football, partying, etc) never really for their academics. When it came time for me to choose a college I said I am not wasting my 4 years to learn about fashion and partying. But what really gets to me is organizations like UNCF who only award scholarships to students or attend Black Colleges. What about black students who attend white/mixed universities, what do we receive for trying to get a diverse well-rounded education.

My taughts at first was to go to an all black school until I spoke to my mother who was schooled in England the Oxford style I must add. After a explaination of why I should not attend and all black school it left me thinking that my moms was xover, but with giving valid proof and showing why it will be in my best interest not to head that direction change my hold out look on it. There much more resources available to you where as an all black college there is some what a limit in every aspect....

I attended one my freshman year of college, and really I think it depends on the person. Overall, I had a good experience, educationally and socially. I'm not the type of person that loses self control and goes wild, so maybe that helped me out. I do think diversity is very important, but although I went to a black college, I was still able to meet people who were differnt from me and diverse culturally. I met and became friends with people that I may have never hung out with, and that was a good thing. On a whole, being a way is a wonderful experience because you learn things about yourself and life. As I said it all depends on the person. I left the school for major reasons, because I wanted to persue a career in fashion and there is no better place for that than my home, NYC. I don't know if I would have felt differently being there for four years, but for one year I enjoyed it.

Good points Kip! To add, i think the concept of Black colleges as a part of the American experience comes from a certain context. Facing a white majority that was (and is) unrelenting in it's drive to crush (even while exploiting) the peoples of color in it's midst, establishing Black colleges was almost a neccessary means of survival and advancement. Are they still needed today? Maybe maybe not...i still think they can play an important role, even if different than before. i tell u this though, if u are to check the list of "high achievers" who have come (at least partially) from the Black college tradition, the list would be pretty impressive.

While i did not attend one myself, i think like Kipani (what every one else said not withstanding) there is plenty that's positive and overall, the experience is really what u make of it.

I am sorry, but I completely disagree with all of you. It's kind of interesting that out of all the contributors to this topic, only one spent a year at a black college. So if I dare say, most of your thoughts are "hearsay".

I attended an "HBCU" (Historically Black College/University), and if I had to do it again, there is not one thing I would change about my decision. When you attend a college/university, you decide what is your purpose for being there. If you want to get caught up in the partying and all the other wild "things" then that is up to you. People act like only the "black schools" get caught up in this stuff. How many times have we read reports of all the wildness that happens in colleges and universities nationwide. The binge drinking at the infamous keg parties, the hazing, etc. Furthermore, there is nothing wrong with having a social aspect as part of your college experience, as long as you know how to balance it all, and the end result, your degree and memories

My second point, this foolishness about an HBCU not teaching about "real" life is absolutely wrong. When i attended school, I was not constantly reminded that I am black and the white man was against me. If anything, you learned a sense of self and how to succeed in this world. For whatever reason, people have this image of HBCUs teaching all this racist stuff. NOT SO!
Most of the top job recruiters came to my school to seek brains. These same recruiters go to a "white school" and would probably not look at our black faces, because they did not come looking for us. Call it a token if you want, but that's our reality.
I am now a successful executive, with a company I've been with for over 6 years. Only my second job since leaving my HBCU, degree in hand and valuable knowledge. All my friends, from my HBCU, (which can I add had a very large volume of West-Indians) are doing very well. wherever their career paths took them. When we get together, we all reminisce on our happy "HBCU" days, and will not trade it for the world. So don't come down on the HBCUs!

well i don't think that it is that bad to go to an all black college although i would not enroll myself there because like most people say there is no diversity and things but i think that it is stereotypical to say that people who go to all black college have more chance to drop out and end up pregnant and things. i just think that it perpetuate the stereotypes about black people...

I didn't go to an all-black university, and I don't know if the numbers support this, but I've noticed that out of my high school class the ones that went to black colleges tend to have a higher rate of business ownership than those who didn't. Like I said, I don't have numbers to support this at a national level...it may just be a coincidence.

I think the major difference may be in the curriculum. My school had very little black representation, so our Africana Studies department consisted of a few courses....there was talk one time of merging it with the Latino & Asian studies and just calling it cultural studies.

Environmentally, I think I would have done better at an all-black school. For me, there's something uplifting about seeing your own being in the majority, winning the President's Awards, winning the best sorority/fraternity on campus, on a level playing field, instead of having minority achievement awards and minority greek awards to recognize us.

There is also the downside where our people tend to percieve that because its black-owned and operated it will have inferior staff and curriculum which isn't always the case.

From Dredgal and fellow HBCU alumni!

In responce to the many untrue stories I just read one must be prevy to the truth. One would loose track if one has not had the proper training before leaving home. Firstly, one should not venture on topics they are not quite sure about nor generalize because a few people you know could not handle the "college experience". For all I know some of you probably got your generalizations by visiting a HBCU during Homecoming or some other function that gave you a reason to visit. Secondly, coming from Howard Univ. and Morgan State Univ. and belonging to many social organizations steming my experience from my HBCU's has been a life lesson that has prepared me to not only deal with other races but feel empowered enough to do like them and own my own shit rather than fighting to get a job with them. Being an alumnus of a HBCU not only teaches about self worth it teaches you to own, protect and buy your OWN shit with your OWN money ie, MAGAZINE OWNERSHIP, HOME OWNERSHIP, BROADCASTING(radio and TV)and BEING FINANCIALLY STABLE FROM PROPER FINANCING.
To note: at Howard University 70% of my professors were not black but Asian, African, Indian and Caucasian.

I'm not trying to come off pro-black but pro-self. I could have of gone to any school I wanted for free and not too many can say that. I chose a HBCU because I knew that, there I would have no excuse of racism for not excelling in my academics.

To conclude a school is what you make it Black or White! An education is what you get out of it! :grabit