Before 1962, the only way African-Americans can go to colleges and universities and was through an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges or Universities). Most HBCUs were created after the American Civil War, In 1865 Shaw University was the first HBCU established in the south after the American Civil War, giving higher education to African-Americans. The Higher Education of Act 1965 defined any historically Black college or university established prior to 1964. The principal mission of HBCUs is to educate African-Americans. As of today, there are more than 100 HBCUs across the nation, which represents 3% of the nation’s institutions for higher learning.
Former President George Bush also described this unique mission of black colleges as follows:
“At a time when many barred their doors to Black-Americans. These colleges offered the best and often the only opportunity for higher education.”
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One of the advantages of attending an HBCU is the tuition rates. Most HBCUs tuition rates are cost efficient, Ample Scholarships, resources, diverse, networking, and sharing the values within your ethnicity. While PWIs may share a few things in common such as history the values are much different, especially with views on racism. Most PWIs (in the south) has a history against the African-American race, far back as the 1960s. In 1963 Former Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace vowed "segregation forever" when he blocked the doors to keep the African-American people from enrolling at the University of Alabama. Attending a PWI as African-American (vice-versa) they’re will be some challenges that you may come across “fitting in with crowd” or “being the voice” for all black people