#hbcu vs. pwi

[ofoceansandtombsanew]

me pulling an uno reverse card on the 'hbcu vs pwi' discussion by going to a school that isn't an hbcu but isn't a pwi either

[campuslately]

Black Student Union: A YouTube Series That’s Just For Us

Black Student Union: A YouTube Series That’s Just For Us

If you are a black college student who attends a PWI  (Predominantly White Institution)you know how crucial the (BSU) Black Student Union can be. The Black Student Union organization is there to ensure that people of color, specifically black students, have the best representation on their campus. BSU helps with everything from planning parties to racial tension within the college community, the…

[deaunjanaewise-blog]

Uneven Development

Uneven development is when resources are not distributed evenly.

When it comes time to choose what type of college you want to attend there is usually one big debate that is usually brought up. The debate that surfaces is Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) vs. Predominantly White Institutions (PWI).

HBCUs are know for there deep rooted since of family culture, in which PWIs lack. While PWI are know for their “supposedly rigorous courses”. HBCUs often are not given the same amount of funding as PWIs are.

According to Dr. Julianne Malveaux, “If the endowments of all 105 HBCUs were added up, they’d still amount to less than 10 percent of Harvard University’s endowment, which at upward of $30 billion is the wealthiest of any college in the world.”

This has created hardships for people who want to attend HBCUs but are not receiving enough funding to do so.

[idyllicbby]

girl i think the only thing i can add to the pwi vs hbcu debate is i feel like {some} Black people who attend pwi think that a hbcu & hbcu culture is just a bunch of Black people attending an university…& it’s so much more than that.

some of them water down the history that’s attached with hbcus and the culture that we (as AAs) had to build for ourselves & by ourselves and it’s so tiring to explain over & over & over again why that’s weird.

like your pwi doesn’t have a mini hbcu in it just bc you joined a black student association that meets one a week sawri 😭😭😭

[ablogfromgrace]

Your PWI is not an HBCU ... & That's Okay

It’s an age-old debate, PWI vs. HBCU. 

For reference:

PWI = Predominantly White Institution

HBCU = Historically Black Colleges & Universities

This discussion has sparked so much tension across every social media platform from Twitter to TikTok. Seeing Black students at PWIs refer to their schools as “basically HBCUs” because of surface-level observations, like parties or them having a higher Black enrollment on their campus. Adversely, seeing Black students at HBCUs degrade PWI students for their decision is equally damaging. We hurt each other so much by trying to prove a point — there is ignorance on both sides. All schools have highs and lows, but our struggles from this argument are in different fonts. Serif & Script to be exact.

Let me tell you something, the HBCU experience is more than what could ever be shown through a screen. It’s an experience of highs and lows, yes and no’s, but it is definitely more than the outside eye can simply observe. That’s why it’s disturbing to see the comparisons as most of them are simply surface level & elementary. Rarely do y’all mention how HBCUs produce the top Black doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc. Rarely do you mention the alumni connection & help with networking. Rarely do you mention the general comradery we gain going through whatever B.S. administration puts us through that week. Y’all simply mention the parties. (We do be lit though.)

But as much as I love my HBCU, we still have our faults. (Trust me.)

There are some structural hurdles (housing, financial aid, staffing, etc.) that I go through at my HBCU that I know is unheard of at PWI’s, but I chose my battle after high school.

Personally, I’ve had my share of a PWI experience in my majority white K-12 school experience I had in adolescence. (A stage I recommend everybody skip.) It was from that experience that I decided I’d rather fight the HBCU battle, and I’ve been a frontline soldier ever since.

So, to the Black PWI students, I know the battles you face on your campus are momentous as well. I remember the race debates, the feelings of outcast, and forcing your way in a school that wasn’t made for you. I especially applaud you in navigating that environment as we all grow into adulthood, but comparing your PWI to my HBCU is not the answer. Your battles are in a different category, but still valid nonetheless.

The problem comes when you compare my battles to your battles. This does nothing except create an unnecessary third battle… Black PWI vs. HBCU.

Ain’t that some exhausting sh*t.

A self-induced battle for Black college students, like we all aren’t fighting personal, social, and institutional attacks as it is now. Hell, we all know the ongoing battles Black people face in the world. The last thing Black students need is another battle. There are so many needs to organize Black students period, regardless of the institution. The common goal is higher education, something we can all be proud of. 

We collectively beat statistics, just attending college. Why not use these platforms for a common goal?

Personally, I’ve started these discussions around organizing with some of my PWI friends, and we have a couple ideas. I recommend you do the same!

Your PWI will never be my HBCU… and that’s okay. It was never meant to be. My institution was forced through burdensome situations, much like the inaugural Black students of your institutions were. Our battles are different, but still valid.

Let’s help each other, and stop looking for reasons to polarize.

a blog from grace

[endymionstudies]

ive always wanted to go to an hbcu!! howard is one of my dream schools :D what's the social environment like? how does being at an hbcu affect your courses, especially your social science courses? just thoughts in general abt your time there

hey!!! so i literally spent like an hour replying to this and reorganizing how i did it bc i had SO MUCH TO SAY and i kept jumping around and it was crazy. but here’s your answer finally :D 

SOME NOTES:

so howard is very different from xavier! if you have any specific questions about howard, you can send those my way still because my cousin goes there and i can pass them along.

i would like to preface my answer with this: xavier is a small, low endowment school. we are the only roman catholic hbcu, and this is very, very central to us. i’m also white passing, and grew up in a very mixed area (mostly white + asian), so my living experience prior to college was very different from that of my peers, and still is. so this is my own experience, but many of my friends have very different outlooks; college is a extremely individualized experience. no two people are the same!

i also tried to keep this general, in case you were applying or looking at other hbcu’s as well, but definitely added specific howard vs xavier things to give the idea of what a small school is offering

also i talk about stats some so here’s the basic ones: Endowment: → howard is 692.8mil → xavier is 171mil

Undergrad Enrollment: → howard is around 6.2k  → xavier is around 2.2k

SOCIAL LIFE / CULTURE:

the thing about hbcu’s is that they are not diverse. so if you come from a heavily diverse area, you are going to have a little bit of culture shock. this isnt something that i really expected, because i never thought about the fact that an hbcu is homogenous, whereas a lot of pwi’s are actually p culturally diverse. if thats not any issues for you then its not a problem! but its a thing, because everyone is very like-minded, and of similar backgrounds, so when youre not, you stand out. my cousin came from a similar background as me (more comfortable/wealthier than her peers, heavily diverse neighborhood, LA private school) and had the exact same problem of not being accepted for not have an “authentic” black life or whatever that means. so there is a very heavily prevalent idea that unless you grew up in one exact way, you’re not “black enough”, so like,,, just be mindful that this is a Thing and that people are surprisingly judgemental about it

each hbcu has a much more insular culture than ive really seen or heard to be at pwi’s, ESPECIALLY if you go greek. theyre extremely close knit, and i know that they are extremely involved and dedicated to each other and to the sorority/fraternity even after they’ve graduated. each school is very distinct, so you have to really get to know and get immersed in the culture. at xavier, we do a lot of music events on campus, because we dont have a big sports culture, and greek life is pretty low key. there are parties, but it’s all house parties off campus bc we’re strictly dry. there are things that are specific to xavier, that you find find or understand if you go somewhere else. everyone is very close knit, and if you go somewhere small, you will know everyone and everyone will know you. so just make sure you know and like the environment and locality that your school is in.

social activism is huge here. some people are light on it, some people are borderline militant. we’re activists by mission, so that definitely has an impact on the kind of people that are drawn here. make sure to really look into your schools mission and what they stand for, because you’ll find a lot of students are like minded to it. i can only assume howard is similar because of its DC location, so be ready for access to lots of protests and heavy government interest.

COURSES:

the religious mission is very important to the school, and so we have required theology courses and service hours to graduate. in terms of social science, for me, we are rather limited. most of our funding goes to science, because we’re a science focused school. we’re known for our pharmacy program, and bio/chem pre-med. if your school only has a few masters/doctorate programs, and they’re all in one field, that’s the section that will get the most funding. howard’s endowment is massive compared to ours, so this will probably not be as glaring.

in regards to hbcu-specific courses, there’s naturally a huge focus on black studies and all of its sub-studies. like black theology/philosophy, history, literature, etc etc. this of course means that if you have an interest thats outside of solely a black focused area, then youre probably not going to find as much. our history department really only does black history in america & the world, so they dont offer classes on larger areas, like greco-roman hist, asian hist, etc. if you have interest in a wider range of studies, but still want to go to an hbcu, i would suggest looking into whether or not your school has a consortium with nearby schools. xavier has one w tulane, so i take german class there bc its not offered for me. i think howard has one with american, so you’d be eligible to take some of their courses, which gives you more access to specialties of interest.

OTHER THINGS:

if you havent, when quarantine is over, i would suggest trying to visit howard and really get a feel for it. its in the middle of DC which is amazing, but the area is very heavily gentrified, and i know that the students are having a lot of issues with the local residents because of this. 

also, make sure to research not just the courses, but the culture. i got told culture didnt matter and that was a fat ass lie. this is how youre living for the next 4 years, and you cant study 24/7. so make sure you will actually enjoy your college years somehow. look at rate my school, look for facebook groups of applied/accepted students, look online for blogs or youtubers who talk candidly about their experiences. talking to current students is the single best way to get a feel for the university, because they can tell you what really goes on, not what the brochures show you.

i hope this helps some!!! if you have any more questions just send them my way, and if i can’t answer them myself i’ll find someone who can :D

[wasgoodshan]

HBCU vs. PWI: What School is Best For You?

Hey, girls. First off, I would like to apologize for the long delay of my blog posts. I have been very busy with work and school, which made it hard to focus on my writing. However, I realized I haven’t spoken with you guys in so long and I have so much to talk about. Today is the start to our long overdue conversation.

This blog post goes to all of my girls who are seniors in high school. Since I know the time is crunching down to make your official decision for college, I’m here to help you make that hard decision. This decision can be very stressful because you have to think about every factor (safety, student & teacher diversity, food, cost, etc) and how these factors are the best for you. The huge debate of PWIs vs. HBCUs has been discussed for years and still remains because of the constant issues that happen on both campuses. Before I get into the facts of the different campuses, I would like to share my personal experience at Ramapo College of New Jersey. I attend a PWI and the first thing I noticed when I moved in was the lack of diversity. Coming from a high school located in Newark, NJ with majority of African-American students, this imbalance of diversity shocked me. I saw myself in the mix of majority white students with a sprinkle of minorities and at first, it scared me. However, attending a PWI in a rural area helped me realize that not all my life, I will be around people who look just like me and it’s better to get out of your comfort zone now then later. Yes, I would have loved to know the experience of attending a HBCU but there were more factors that made me lean towards a PWI (which I would speak about now.)

HBCU:

Historically Black College Campus/ Univeristies are seen as a safe haven for black students; to have quality education without the constant worry of being stigmatized or potentially exposed to violence. While these institutions have a focus on the education of African American students, these colleges or universities are open to any race, religion, or gender. Most of the students and professors are African-American which can be very comforting for black students. HBCU’s hold a huge significance in Black History, as it opened a door for educational opportunity for many blacks who were once legally denied an education.

Pros of Attending an HBCU:

1. The atmosphere of an HBCU holds a very prideful joy for their school with great marching bands, stellar cheerleaders, and students dripped out in college gear. If you are considering going to an HBCU, please come with great pride for your school and it’s great history. If you want people who look just like you and want to surround yourself with a respected history.

2. HBCU’s provide an abundance of scholarships and grants for students who showed great excellence in high school. Many HBCU’s are out of state if you live in New Jersey and tuition can be very pricey. This is why it’s so important to go after any scholarship or grant your school can provide for you.

3. There are great opportunities to join in extracurricular activities such as cheerleading, sports, and professional networking. There are several alumni committees that take the time to cater to the current students on campus and let them find great opportunities for their future.

Here are some famous HBCU’s that you might spend the next four years:

Howard University (Washington DC)

Morgan State University (Baltimore, MD)

Spelman/Morehouse College (Atlanta, GA)

North Carolina A&T University (Greensboro, NC)

PWIs:

A Predominately White Institution is a institution of higher learning with 50% or more of the students who identify as white. It’s basically the opposite of an HBCU; however, the atmosphere and daily life of a student here differ. PWI’s have great history as well, as many go back wayyyyyy before us and our parents. There are typically more students who attend PWI’s so classroom size can be as huge as a lecture hall. Other races attend PWI’s and now, many of these institutions are advocating for a more diverse campus, which can really benefit you.

Pros of Attending an PWI:

1. There is a better chance of receiving scholarships or a better financial aid package because PWIs have higher endowments due to financial assets donating more than to HBCU’s. If you are thinking about the financial costs, you may end up at a PWI simply because they may give you a better financial aid package.

2. There is a larger field of networking at a PWI. You are able to reach out to more reputable companies you would like to work for when you graduate from college. There are an abundance of opportunities laid out for you which may not be the same at an HBCU.

3. Even though this is an PWI, there are a variety of ethnic organizations such as BSU or ASA that represent the minorities at school. You may find these organizations your home as you can find people who look just like you. These organizations participate in a lot of events at school and bring awareness of better diversity on campus.

Here are some famous PWI’s you might spend the next four years:

Duke University (Durham, North Carolina)

Cornell University (Ithaca, New York)

University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Loyola University (Baltimore, Maryland)

[blueinmoonlight]

I really don't get the HBCU vs. PWI debate on Black twitter. Like we're all in debt for going to schools at the end of the fucking day.

[thehbcunation]

(TheHBCUNation)  My latest interview on the #HBCU Nation Radio Show is now up on #SoundCloud. Anthony Ray gave me an opportunity to voice my concerns about how the HBCU community conducts social media discussions such as in the cursed "HBCU vs. PWI" debate. Our discussion is partially based on my #IdentityAndValue #blogentry "The New 'In My Feelings' Challenge: The 'HBCU vs. PWI' Debate and Emotional Intelligence" (swipe left). . . . "What irritates me is the recklessness and arrogance with which the HBCU vs.PWI debate can be conducted. Black PWI students and alums can be guilty of insulting the HBCU community with mindless assumptions that more well-resourced institutions mean higher quality education. There are those in the HBCU community who thoughtlessly accuse Black PWI students and alumni of sacrificing their cultural identity for 'Mr. Charlie.' To be blunt, the lack of emotional intelligence is nothing short of alarming." #podcast

[mariar2491]

Uneven Development

A major problem among universities in the United States is the unequal funding between the HBCUS and PWI’S. The difference causes lack of opportunities for the university and students due to the lack of funding. A example of this is because of the unequal funding this causes a decrease in enrollment and no resources for students.

This is a example of uneven Development because their is unequal treatment involving Urban universities vs PWI’S . PWI’S have more opportunities and resources than HBCUS and because of unequal distribution of funds HBCU students and future can Suffer greatly.

[campuslately]

Is PWIs Claiming To Be HBCUs The New Trend In Cultural Appropriation?

Is PWIs Claiming To Be HBCUs The New Trend In Cultural Appropriation?

!!WARNING!! 

Before you try come at me sideways trying to debate about PWIs and HBCUs let me share these brief disclaimers:

1. I am not here to debate on whether HBCUs or PWIs are better

2. I am in fact not an “angry” HBCU student who “can’t take a joke”

3. I know the definition of Cultural Appropriation, so please don’t try to inform me with your googled definitions

Now back to my article… It…

[myungodlyhour]

INFORMAL RANT OF THE MONTH INCOMING

After this I’m not posting about it anymore

A lot of black people tend to forget or ignore the fact they’re black and what black people, especially the average black person goes through, when they’ve become integrated into certain communities and/or tax bracket. Or even if they grew up in a certain class.

What do you mean you don’t associate with “them?” You don’t have time to deal with “them?” (And people say it in a very specific, nasty way)

What, do you see yourself as the good colored folk that’s tolerable and not the n***a or hard -er?

Especially you light-skins and mixed people. And I’m not considered dark or light skin at all (and def not mixed)

What do you mean you don’t support BLM? The basic saying and meaning of the movement, not the drama of what goes on behind the scenes (that’s a whole other issue).

BUT THIS IS MY MAIN ISSUE AND THIS IS FROM EVERYWHERE NOT JUST THIS APP

Of course no one should lean or depend on a victim mindset. Yes there are lazy black people. Yes there are very successful black people. But to decide to truly disregard the fact that despite there being successful black peoples in whatever venture they call being successful at, there is still a system in place to continue oppressing black people to this day is very weird behavior to me. Not to mention disregarding racist people who either built these systems, are the CEOs or board members or whatever person making decisions and upholding these practices— some who y’all want to marry or surround yourself with

Like wat do some of you mean “republicanize” yourself as a black woman to get into certain places or meet certain men? Yes that’s very specific to tumblr I remember seeing that the first few WEEKS of being in a certain community and being like oh hell naw. That’s very dangerous behavior to me you weirdo. Wtf is wrong with y’all? Y’all really wanna end up like candance owens????

Like does it have to spelled out for y’all? Do you really need a reminder?

How black peoples skin, the simple color of skin has historically and to this day been seen as evil and associated with the devil. Why do you think many shoot now (think guilty) ask (if they can/think and/or find innocent if there even was a crime taken place) later?

I’m even talking about the prices of healthy food at grocery stores, or the amount of corner stores in majority black neighborhoods than white neighborhoods where a corner store won’t be seen for miles while Whole Foods and other places are stacked there

I’m talking about the distance from black neighborhoods to healthcare facilities. The way the racist idea and practice of “black people don’t feel pain, or at least not as much as other races” are still taught in some med schools and/or textbooks, leaving black peoples to have awful health care and in many cases deadly. Oh my not to mention mental illnesses in black people are dealt with (even within our our own community). How little black girls are seen as more adult by adults and/or authority figures compared to their girl peers by the time they hit the 4th grade.

I’m talking about how lopsided the education system is. How truly absurd it is in the different resources the public schools are in predominantly black neighborhoods than white ones. Or for you private and catholic school folks the same thing. It’s been said so many times but the funding difference is ludicrous and so many other problems. The education they receive is not the same. Especially when learning disability comes into play. Almost my entire family on my maternal side, beside me and my dad, and many people I kno work in the education field say this. And this includes PWIs vs HBCUs

I’m talking the pay gap no matter your degree/profession and what senioriy level you’re at including gender.

Don’t even get me started on how no matter your education level, or what school you went to people are surprised that you, a black person is intelligent and can speak articulately (I had to restrain myself at school when someone passive aggressively said that to me) Or how unqualified they will forever be in the eyes of racist people. Literally honorable justice (now scotus) Ketanji Brown Jackson just went through it during her confirmation hearing as a nominee

I’m talking redlining hun and all that comes with that. THERE ARE STILL SUNDOWN TOWNS IN THIS COUNTRY

I’m talking about how black people, even kids are followed in stores as soon as they walk in (this has happened to me before when I was with my sister and mom, and another time when I was with my friends, and how this has happened to so many people I know including my brothers). How black people are always accused of about to rob a bank by the front desk people before they even ask them if they have an account there. How the AVERAGE racist person working as a cashier automatically thinks a black person is on food stamps or some welfare check or won’t have enough to pay for their groceries or items. How at times black peoples are asked to pay before getting their service “just in case” (I’ve personally never heard of that happen with others)

You kno why a lot of black people are financially illiterate and/or have more financial problems than white people even when they try and learn and practice what they leadn? Why the vast majority don’t have money, or enough set aside for their kids to go to a good school, even if they get scholarships? Why so many drop out for different reasons. Literally this white girl I went to school with said her parents set aside $100k for her and we just looked at her like wtf? And their jobs weren’t crazy or they didn’t invest.

There’s so much more I could list and say and explain

But y’all don’t know or choose to understand or acknowledge that there are so many hardworking black folks out there (young and old) who are really trying despit the odds against them and they try so hard not to use the “excuse” of “the system is against me” when it really is. How hard they try to ignore/swallow the bullshit they go through on a regular basis to “make it”? And how deeply upsetting it is to see some not be able to overcome it? I’m surrounded by these people because I grew up with them.

I’m now meeting and am starting to also surround myself with black people who also come from a similar background as me or not who are successful and they too acknowledge the truth, and have experienced some if not all of these. My aunt has a PhD, won an election on the last election ballot to become a trustee at a college where I’m from, is very successful and has a beautiful family and happy marriage (from what I can see) and points this out. The two directors of diversity and inclusion at my university who are black even stated some of this even goes on at the very school they work at/I attended, to the point the previous one ended up leaving. So many black workers have left that school during the 4 years I was there.

Finally this goes to say that just because you, as a black person, have became successful at whatever you wanted to become successful at (career, education, everything under lifestyle, etc) doesn’t mean racism and other forms of oppression toward black people, especially the average doesn’t exist. Or lie to yourself and say it’s getting better.

Like wat do you mean stop having a poverty mindset as you move up in the world? Fam a lot of people continue to have that because they kno what it was like before and use it as motivation to not fail and go back.

Like wat do u mean stop talking? And this is when you’re being asked about anything regarding this “topic.” Are you afraid to make certain people upset or uncomfortable to point out where most likely their “old money” wealth comes from/how they’re able to have that while the vast majority or black families in this country don’t? Or if they did, not anymore (and yes I’m talking the destruction of black Wall Street. Yes I’m talking about how Central Park in New York was a black neighborhood before it was torn down to build a park leaving many if not all displaced). I’m not even talking about how the 1% is able to exist against the general rest of the 99% of the population.

I don’t usually like the term “sellout” but it’s the best I can come up with right now instead of using the other one. Like seriously gtfoh

It’s not about not being able to handle what it takes to “fit in” cus I want a certain life, and I know I’m heading in that direction and you better be damn sure I’m still gon speak and acknowledge the truth. I’m still gon prioritize helping my people, even if it’s simply the people back home. Not because I feel obligated (though it’s funny how people, in this case certain black people speak of charity and how important it is but treat black people in need like dirt and barely an afterthought), but because I care. And the people I surround myself with know and deeply, sincerely appreciate that about me and want to help in ways they can.

And really, I’m not trying to sound like I’m better than anyone on any type of scale you want to use.

And no I didn’t misunderstand or take out of context anything anyone said.

I kno I might come across as mad or aggressive, but this really gets me going cus we really need to do better, be better support systems for each other, especially when when people reach out.

OK NOW IM DONE.

[shadesmagazine1]

#November 2021 – #HBCU vs. #PWI – A lively #discussion on the unique and shared #experiences, #successes and #challenges between Historically #Black #Colleges and #University & Predominantly White #Universities. #RealTalk: Gen X/Y & #Race in America – presented by shades Magazine – is a monthly, #virtual conversation among Young #WomenofColor discussing how race and race issues impact their lives. Learn more about #RealTalk at shadesmagazine.com. And watch past episodes on our YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/shadesmagazineWoC (at Via Zoom) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWxRzpiLhbF/?utm_medium=tumblr

[the-modernblackgirl]

Black History Month.

The month that we celebrate the accomplishments of prominent members of the African American society. The month we are able to recognize those that came before us and acknowledge where the African American Community is heading in terms of advancements.

Black History Month at a PWI is often an odd time. It’s time where the Black community is continuously celebrating and brings out their best Afrocentric gear. However on a wider scale, at UCF Black History Month is more  of a footnote in the school agenda opposed to the main article.

Now this isn’t to be blamed on the school itself. It is a Public White Institution and many of the student’s don’t hold this month to the same esteem as the Black Community. Why is that?

Why is that even in today’s society a month that is dedicated to the celebration of accomplishments of those who have paved the way for many of the aspect that are essential to our lives today. From the creation of the first blood bank to traffic signals. Without these intelligent and determined African Americans, we as Americans would lack so many inventions that make life today what it is.........

[hbcus]

The Sound Machines

       Another definitive characteristic of  HBCUs is their marching bands. You just know when you are watching an HBCU band perform vs a PWI band. There are many definitive characteristics of an HBCU band such as the drum majors, the majorettes, the flashy uniforms, and of course the high-step marching style. Most people go to HBCU football games to watch the band just as much as the football game. 

       HBCUs put emphasis on the energy and relevance of their bands. Half-time is not the time to go to the bathroom when you are being graced with an HBCU performance. You will always be able to hear the hottest song out at the time when you attend a performance from an HBCU band. The performances are high energy and incorporate a lot of dance compared to the traditional marching and formations of marching bands. 

       Some of the more famous marching bands include Howard University’s “Showtime” band, Southern University’s “Human Jukebox’, and Florida A&M’s “The Marching 100”. Each of these teams has a different way of captivating their audience and getting the crowd up on their feet.

       Dancing alongside the marching bands are the majorettes. These dancers are women, who wear flashy outfits and incorporate dance and gymnastic movements into the routines. Also during the game, the majorettes are known for their stunning formations and synchronization in the bleachers.  When performing together, the marching band and majorettes create captivating performances that draws in spectators from all over the world. Examples of these bands are depicted in famous movies such as Drumline and Stomp the Yard. More recently, Beyoncé paid homage to the HBCU style of music through her famous Coachella performance. 

       HBCUs are very proud of their marching bands because their styles are completely composed of black ideas and talents. Having the best marching band is the ultimate bragging right. The formations and routines are anything but easy, and this is why many students who are fortunate enough to be a part of one of these teams are on scholarship. The bands also bring in lots of money to their schools, from donations from famous alumnus and boosters. 

       The marching bands are just one of the many HBCU elements that you can not get through a predominantly white institution. The depiction of a diverse well-rounded band like an HBCU band is very hard to find. In my opinion, this is one of the most well-known and important elements of an HBCU. 

Works Cited

           Katzman, Christine Ngeo. “The Art and Technique of HBCU.” Halftime Magazine, 7 Sept. 2015, halftimemag.com/features/the-art-and-technique-of-hbcu.html.

[colorismhealing]

Colorism on College Campuses

Colorism on College Campuses

Colorism on college campuses is well known to many, yet discussed by few. I want to change that! In this week’s live, I raise the topic, especially since colorism exists, in some form, on every college campus. There is a difference, however, in how it shows up on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) vs. predominantly white institutions (PWIs) Colorism can be more obvious in all…