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Historically Black Colleges Tuskegee University Term Paper

¶ … black colleges/Tuskegee University The psychological, economic, political importance of historically black colleges

In a workplace, the significance of scholarly and nourished atmosphere cannot be underrated in forming a stronger base for future success. (Historically Black Colleges - Letters to the Editor) Before the period of 1964, the 'Historically Black Colleges and Universities'- HBCU's, the postsecondary academic institutions were established and its educational purpose was to teach African-Americans. (The Importance of HBCUs) Historically, HBCUs came into being at a time when Black students were mainly barred from other institutions of higher education, and their purpose was to give these students with chances for scholarship and professional training. (Students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Their Aspirations & Accomplishments) HBCU's have been a main basis in the growth of the African-American middle class. They offer a helpful social, cultural, and racial atmosphere for people of color who are looking for a college education. (Recognizing National Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the importance and accomplishments of historically Black colleges and universities)

Prior to the Civil War, the first HBCU were formed in the North. In the South, during the American Revolution and the Civil War, there were some major limitations on the education of the Blacks and slaves. Slaves were prevented from learning, reading and writing in many Southern states. Though there were some limitations that restricted the education of Blacks, they were not banned completely and many schools also gave Blacks the equivalent of an elementary and secondary education. Thus HBCU's offered a psychological support for the Blacks from being teased further in Traditionally White Institutions -- TWI's because of the color of their skin. Thus HBCU's have been and is significant as a psychological comfort to the African-Americans. (Students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Their Aspirations & Accomplishments)

The advantage of education provided by Historically Black Colleges and Universities than TWIs' was that they equipped the Black students for professions like science and engineering in which they were not represented and that are favorable to positive labor market results and are more flourishing than Traditional White Institutions in training students for vocation in engineering, science or business. Several other educationalists have stressed the role of the schools in training students for community leadership, seeing the HBCU's job and power as training students for vocation in teaching, social work, or the social sciences, by giving an arduous and complete liberal arts education. (Students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Their Aspirations & Accomplishments) On a national level, HBCU's have educated "85% of African-American physicians, 75% of African-American PhDs, 50% of African-American engineers, and 46% of African-American business executives at the undergraduate or graduate level." (The Importance of HBCUs) In the United States historically Black health professional schools have educated "around 40% of all Black dentists; 50% of Black pharmacists, 75% of Black veterinarians; 75% of all Black military officers and 50% of Black attorneys." (Recognizing National Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the importance and accomplishments of historically Black colleges and universities)

Supporters of the schools have recommended many probable justifications: the schools offer a more socially organized atmosphere for minority students; they give an education that is more racially responsive to the requirements of minority students; they are mainly victorious at training students for leadership roles in their communities. Some instructors argue that HBCU's are exceptionally able to create leaders. Their arguments are that the education at HBCU's concentrates on training students to contest against repression and to represent Black community. Louis Sullivan, Douglas Wilder, Toni Morrison, Andrew Young Jr. And Alice Walker, opera singer Jessey Norman and television personality Oprah Winfrey and Phylica Rashad are some of the famous people who graduated from HBCU. These HBCU graduates are only the latest generation to attain fame. Martin Luther King Jr., W.E.B. Du Bois, Medgar Evers, Thurgood Marshall, Rosa Parks, Ralph Ellison, and Booker T. Washington were the earlier graduates of HBCU. (Students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Their Aspirations & Accomplishments)

For people who are not able to pay for postsecondary education, HBCUs help them in making higher education monetarily achievable. (Recognizing National Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the importance and accomplishments of historically Black colleges and universities) People who require financial resources and who need extra academic development are helped by HBCU to fill the space in higher education by refining and supporting the students. Around, 76%...

That proportion is superior to the 46% of freshmen at the most of the white campuses who get such assistance. (The Importance of HBCUs) It is likely that many students would not have gone to any college at all had there not been a Historically Black College to attend, as students often mention fee as a reason for selecting Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and because several of them come from families of low socio-economic status. The advantages of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, then, accumulate not only to students who select them over Traditionally White Institutions, but also to students who select them over moving directly into the employment sector. (Students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Their Aspirations & Accomplishments)
There is wide consent among advocates and instructors that the ethnic homogeneity of the schools, their mainly Black faculties, and their smaller size in comparison to the public colleges and Universities these students would most likely join if there were no HBCUs, should be expected to positively influence student results at HBCUs. It was found that Black students present in the institutions where they were the minority had lower development rates than Black students who attended Universities where they were in majority. Astin, Tsui and Avalos found a significant disparity. Their study recommends that Black students attending HBCU's be more expected than Black students attending TWIs to finish their degrees. Black students in HBCU's were found to be 17% more than their equivalents at TWIs to finish their degrees, when earlier student success as calculated by high school grades and SAT scores, institutional size and selectivity were taken into account. (Students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Their Aspirations & Accomplishments) Historically Black colleges are important in providing higher education to African-American in this country, which is shown by their victory in graduating African-American students with bachelors' degrees.

Tuskegee University and its history and what makes this university important

Tuskegee University is a self-governing and institution of higher education which is related to the state. Tuskegee University is situated in Tuskegee, Alabama, which is 40 miles east of the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery and is within easy driving distance to the cities of Alabama, Birmingham and Atlanta. Booker T. Washington found it in 1881, and for 122 years Tuskegee University has become of the nation's most exceptional institutions of higher learning. Its curriculum assists a student body that is coeducational as well as culturally, racially and devotedly varied. Tuskegee University was the first black college to be selected as a Registered National Historic Landmark, and the only black college to be chosen a National Historic Site, a district managed by the National Park Service of the U.S. Department of Interior. (Welcome to Tuskegee University) It was started with a one-room shanty near Butler Chapel AME Zion Church with thirty adults and Dr. Booker T. Washington as the first tutor. George Campbell, a former slave owner, and Lewis Adams, a former slave, tinsmith and community leader must be recognized for their role in founding of the University. Lewis Adams, Thomas Dryer, and M.B. Swanson created the board of commissioners to get the school structured. (History of Tuskegee University)

Under the direction of its founder, Dr. Washington, who supervised the institution from 1881 until his death at age 59 in 1915, Tuskegee emerged to national importance. During his term, institutional independence was acquired in 1892, again by legislation, when Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute were sanctioned right to act autonomous of the state of Alabama. In 1985, Tuskegee got University status and has since then been giving its first doctoral programs in integrative biosciences and materials science and engineering. (History of Tuskegee University) As per the June 5, 2003 edition of Black Issues in Higher Education, nationally Tuskegee University ranks in the top 25 producers of Black baccalaureate graduates among Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The highly expected yearly study specifies United States Department of Education reports of initial 2001-02 graduation data. In spite of the predominate racial group, Black Issues found that Tuskegee ranks second in the state of Alabama, 21st among HBCU's and 50th among all institutions of higher education. (Tuskegee University one of the Top 25 Producers of Black Baccalaureates)

Similarly, the University is the foremost institution in the state of Alabama in generating Black baccalaureates in mathematics, engineering, biological and life sciences. For instance, Tuskegee's college of Engineering, Architecture and Physical Sciences, remains to be a top creator of Blacks with engineering degrees. In the state of Alabama Tuskegee is found to be fifth among all colleges and universities and higher…

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References

History of Tuskegee University. Retrieved from http://www.tuskegee.edu/Global/story.asp?S=1070392&; nav=CcX4DGwrTuskegee Accessed on 16 February, 2005

Recognizing National Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the importance and accomplishments of historically Black colleges and universities. (Introduced in House). Retrieved from http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z-c108:H.RES.82.IH: Accessed on 16 February, 2005

Students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Their Aspirations & Accomplishments. Retrieved from http://www.ets.org/research/pic/hbcprefa.html Accessed on 16 February, 2005

The Importance of HBCUs. The Common Sense Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.common-sense.org/?fnoc=/common_sense_says/99_february Accessed on 16 February, 2005
Tuskegee University one of the Top 25 Producers of Black Baccalaureates. June 4, 2003. Retrieved from http://www.tuskegee.edu/global/Story.asp?s=1309096 Accessed on 16 February, 2005
Welcome to Tuskegee University. Retrieved from http://www.tuskegee.edu/global/story.asp?s=1082607&; ClientType=Printable Accessed on 16 February, 2005
Retrieved from http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_3_58/ai_97823495 Accessed on 16 February, 2005
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