Lecture Notes: The Evolution and Role of Black Colleges in America

Overview of Johnson & Johnson and Cheddar News

• Johnson & Johnson is the world's largest healthcare company.
  • Focus on curing cancers, reversing strokes, and 3D printing joints.
• Cheddar News provides daily updates on global events, technology, and politics.
  • Programs include "Wake Up with Cheddar" and "Cheddar's News Wrap".

Historical Context of Black Education in America

• Importance of education as a means of empowerment for African Americans.
• Historical barriers to education during slavery and post-Civil War era.
  • Literacy associated with freedom and power.
  • Laws against educating slaves.

Post-Civil War Education

• Establishment of schools by formerly enslaved people.
• Role of Northern organizations and the AMA in setting up schools and colleges.
• Emergence of historically black colleges.

Key Figures and Schools

• Booker T. Washington
  • Advocated for industrial education.
  • Founded Tuskegee Institute; emphasized vocational training.
• W.E.B. Du Bois
  • Advocated for higher education and intellectual advancement.
• Charles Hamilton Houston
  • Pioneered legal strategies to challenge segregation.
  • Instrumental in Brown vs. Board of Education.

Education and Civil Rights Movement

• Role of black colleges in nurturing leaders and activists.
• Howard University as a catalyst for legal challenges against segregation.
• Student activism in the 1960s and 70s, including sit-ins and protests.

Modern Role and Challenges of HBCUs

• Unique environment that fosters black identity and leadership.
• Challenges include enrollment and funding issues.
• Continued cultural significance and impact on black society.

Personal Stories and Legacy

• Impact of black colleges on individual and community identity.
• Personal challenges faced by students.
• Contributions to the civil rights movement and societal change.

Future of Black Colleges

• Mixed outlook with some institutions thriving while others struggle.
• Importance of maintaining cultural and educational significance.

Conclusion

• Black colleges have been crucial in providing education and empowerment.
• They continue to play a vital role in shaping black leadership and culture.
• Despite challenges, they remain essential to the fabric of American education and culture.