1. Black Studies and Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Towards a New Synthesis
Alan Colon

2. Learning Objectives
Understand the role of Black Studies within a contemporary political and educational context.
Interrogate the role and function of the HBCU
Question the role and practicality of education.

3. A people without self-knowledge is like a tree without roots
You are teaching Negroes..and they are the subjects of a caste system in the Republic of he United States of America and their life problem is primary this problem of caste…A Negro university begins with Negroes…it is founded or it should be founded on a knowledge of the history of their people in Africa and the United States and their present condition….W.E.B. Du bois

4. Miseducation of the Negro
The only question which concerns us is whether these educated persons are actually equipped to face the ordeal before them or unconsciously contribute to their own undoing by perpetuating the regime of the oppressor.—Carter G Woodson

5. Political Context of Education at HBCU
De Jure segregation dismantled in the 60s
Increasing political representation in the 70s
Rise of the middle class in the 80s.

6. Defining Education Knowledge and skills are taught and learned
Those with talents are rewarded with the most critical and specialized knowledge and skills
Transition of culture, history and values
Enlighten and inform insight

7. Key Postulates
Blacks are underdeveloped due to oppression and exploitation
Knowledge is not value free and holds a political agenda
Education has historically served to miseducate Black students
Black people need a liberatory education

8. Key Postulates Cont.
Assimilation preempts the realization of liberation
The mission of Black studies is to reconstruct the teaching, learning, researching and writing of the Black lived experience
HBCU is logical and necessary, but under-utilized as agencies for facilitating an education for liberation through Black studies.

9. Historical Context to the Education of Blacks
Education was seen as incompatible with slavery
Literacy was made illegal
Plessy v. Furgeson assumed a type of equality that did not serve the interests of Blacks
Accomodation shaped the educational interests of Blacks through the agency of Booker T. Washingon
Assimilation guided the construction of HBCU curriculum

10. Mission, Purpose, and Organizational Culture
Leadership development
Promote democratic values
Service
Social change
Transferrable skills (ethics, values and academic remediation)
Assimilation into the mainstream culture
Consciousness of the problems associated with assimilation

11. Function HBCU
Shaping educationally deprived students and making them academically and intellectually competitive and competent
Empower disadvantaged students
Laboratory of Black leadership

12. Black Studies Product of the Black Freedom Struggle
Serve as a hub of empowerment for Black students on white campuses
By 1971, there were over 500 Black Studies programs, however they were mostly cut by the mid 70s.
50% of Black students attend historically white institutions (by 1978).

13. Considerations for Restructuring
Black studies at the HWI must engage the HBCU
There must be adequate funding
Curriculum must be in line with the needs of the people
Staff must also be adaptive to the needs of the Black community at large
Community outreach must be at the core of development
There must be a universal evaluation matrix
Research must address the needs of the community
Coalitions and partnerships must be established
Leadership must come from the national level