Hbcu Experience - the Book: A Collection of Essays Celebrating the Black College Experience

By Xlibris US

Co-edited by Historically Black College and University (HBCU) alumni Dr. Tia Tyree and Christopher D. Cathcart, HBCU Experience The Book celebrates the rich legacy and experiences of those who attended HBCUs. This groundbreaking anthology chronicles undergraduate realities, such as dating and relationships, dorm living, road trips, pledging fraternities and sororities, student activism and leadership; athletics and more. Further, with the debate still raging over the relevance and need for HBCUs in the new millennium, this collection of essays helps showcase the unique experiences of HBCU graduates, highlights the important need for these institutions and accentuates the overall benefits of having an HBCU education.


"I love the HBCU Experience; there's nothing like it. Most of the people I hired as staff or interns through the years came from an HBCU, and the most prominent icons of the Civil Rights Movement came out of the HBCU Experience; which included stellar leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Congressman John Lewis, Ambassador Andrew Young, Stokely Carmichael, NAACP Leader Medgar Evers and Actor/Activist Ossie Davis."
-Jeff Burns, Jr., Author, "The Brotherhood of Drew Hall"

HBCU Experience - The Book is a fulfilling memoir. The book is a legacy to be treasured, with first-person accounts that offer readers an authentic reality as they learn or reminisce.
-Jannette L. Dates, Ph.D., Dean Emerita of the Howard University School of Communications; co-editor/primary author of Split Image: African Americans in the Mass Media and co-author of The Obamas and Mass Media: Race, Gender, Religion, and Politics

The HBCU culture and history is so rich that it deserves to have its stories told. As a custodian of the HBCU flame, I am thankful we have Tia and Chris to be our lions and this wonderful book to tell our tales."
-Michael J. Sorrell, Esq,. President of Paul Quinn College

"Capturing the true essence of the HBCU experience is nearly impossible for people who are not HBCU alumni until now. This book is a must-read for alums who want to reflect on the good old days and for high school students considering their college options."
- Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., President & CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 6, 2014
• ISBN: 9781493185733

Book preview

HBCU Experience—

The Book

A Collection of Essays Celebrating the Black College Experience

Including Essays From

Central State University ♦ Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

Claflin University ♦ Fisk University ♦ Florida A&M University

Hampton University ♦ Howard University ♦ Jackson State University

Morehouse College ♦ Morgan State University ♦ North Carolina Central University ♦ Spelman College ♦ Tennessee State University

Texas Southern University

Virginia State University ♦ Winston-Salem State University

Edited By

Tia C. M. Tyree, Ph.D.

Christopher D. Cathcart

Foreword by

U.S. Congressman Elijah E. Cummings

Copyright © 2014 by Tyree & Cathcart.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2014904996

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-4931-8574-0

                Softcover         978-1-4931-8575-7

                eBook              978-1-4931-8573-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 10/20/2014

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

541173"

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Preface

Foreword

Introduction

CHAPTER ONE

Grace, Grades and Guidance

The Empty Seat was Mine

Inspired by My Millionaire Professor

Jackson State: More Than Just a School

Educational Pride and Courage

Making It Through and Appreciating the Journey

Mr. Morgan Gets Some Help

Intrigued by American Politics

Lesson No. 1: Education is a Privilege

Why I Chose Howard University

Working Hard and Playing Hard

An Ode to Howard University and HBCUs—The First of Many Lessons

Getting Comfortable at FAMU

From Mis-Education to Education: My Journey at North Carolina Central University

Happy for the Unexpected Chance

Aggie Theatre Wins National Title

Learning from the Four Ls

Measuring Up to My Mentor’s Standards

CHAPTER TWO

On the Yard

Learning the Importance of Going to School Early

Lunch with Robert Mugabe

Meeting My Roomie

Exposure

Peanut Butter and Jelly

The Winter Party of All Parties

Fresh Chickens and Stolen Pies

Freshman Initiation

Random Thoughts on My HBCU Experience

In the Footsteps of My Father

A Bison’s Story

The Real School Daze

Living the Easy Dorm Life in the 1970s

Two Little Words

Taking It All in at Howard University

Understanding Diversity at an HBCU

A Howard Education Is a Family Affair

Getting a College Degree and Bad Credit

Labor Day Beach Party

Memories of The Yard

Earning Respect and a Friend on My Team

The Road, the Snow and an Unexpected Turn of Events

Greek Life in the North and South

A Day On Line at Hampton University in Spring 1986

CHAPTER THREE

Say It Loud

Learning About My Blackness Inside and Outside the Classroom

The Importance of HBCUs to Me

Politics, Washington and My College Experience

Race and Education Were Always Connected for Me

The Creation of a Strong, Courageous Actress

Obama Changed Bethune-Cookman University

My Graduation Memories

Students Protest: Living in the Ghetto

A Swim Toward Black Studies for All

CHAPTER FOUR

Love: Self, School and Others

Black Man, Interrupted: The Impact of HBCU Brotherhood

My Morgan

Following Family and Making a New Family at Howard

Embracing My Ethnicity and Liking It

Romeo and Juliet: An Unfinished HBCU Love Story

A Grandmother’s Legacy at Virginia State University

Friends Through Good and Bad Times

I Wish I Were a Good Girl in College

Identifying the HBCU Graduate and HBCU Experience

Understanding What it Means to Be a Morehouse Man

I Will Remain True to You!

My Experience As a Gay Student at an HBCU

Freshman Year

About the Editors

Historically Black Colleges and Universities

DEDICATIONS

To all of those who decided to or had to attend an HBCU and dared to share their stories with someone else. It is in the ritual art of storytelling that so many powerful movements and changes occur in our society.

—Tia C. M. Tyree, Ph.D.

I dedicate this book to my wonderful friends and family—who are supportive in all ways—and to all those who have attended, are attending or will attend an Historically Black College or University. We are the life’s blood to one of the greatest achievements in education and social advancement.

—Christopher D. Cathcart

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

As with any accomplishment, there are many people we must thank for assisting us in this journey. Allison Miller provided much support and assistance to us with editing and acquiring essays. George Newcomb provided photographs to help us promote the book as well as created the cover art. Manotti Jenkins provided us with much-needed legal advice, and Kendra Lee assisted us with her great editing skills. Finally, we appreciate our families who supported us as we completed yet another important project.

PREFACE

The idea of the book came in 2010 when we first met during a homecoming event at Howard University. After some small talk and a few passing emails, it turned out we both had similar book ideas and a strong passion for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The Bison blood ran deep in our veins, and so, too, did the idea that exposure to our HBCUs—Morgan State University and Howard University—changed our lives for the better. The ideas and desire to share our stories merged into developing a book about HBCUs told by those who attended, and soon the concept of HBCU Experience—The Book was born.

This collaboration is a culmination of three years of work. The book is designed to give readers the opportunity to hear first-hand accounts of attending an HBCU by those who finished the journey or came very close to graduating. We made a conscious decision to only highlight the stories of those who could look at their total experience or could share a poignant story about not finishing the journey. Further, the idea was to present a cross section of stories from individuals of all nationalities, races, ages, genders, geographic locations and other defining characteristics to tell the story of attending HBCUs. However, we do understand the whole story is too long, too rich and too diverse to tell in these pages or in any one book. Yet, this is a start.

Reading these pages will give you a glimpse into the HBCU experience. It could help a high school student make a choice between attending an HBCU or a Predominately White Institution (PWI). It could help a graduate take a stroll down memory lane. It could help someone demystify HBCUs. It could counter stereotypes to preconceived notions many have about the homogeny of HBCU student bodies. Or, it could simply just entertain. Therefore, we believe it is necessary to have this story told by those who lived it.

We tried very hard to allow the true voices of the authors to come through in their essays, even if it meant keeping in a curse word or two or a grammatically incorrect sentence. While most essays were solicited randomly, we did reach out to a few friends, classmates and acquaintances whose stories we knew had to be told. Honestly, there were many more stories provided to us than appear in this final book. Yet, we think this collection of essays brings forth a kaleidoscope of experiences worth reading and sharing. Whether it’s Chrystal deGregory’s story about being a young girl in the Bahamas who was transformed by watching a United Negro College Fund commercial and the personal invitation to attend college by a recruiter; Ellen Chaney Bostic’s desire to finish Virginia State University, the very same school her grandmother couldn’t finish 50 years prior; the sidesplittingly funny story of Gladstone Tony Alleyne’s attempt to trade a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for his own transistor radio or those of the young people finding themselves—racially, sexually or professionally, they all speak to unique HBCU experiences.

In the introduction, Allissa Richardson, a 2002 graduate of Xavier University, skillfully tells her personal collegiate story and encourages others to seek out their futures at an HBCU. The foreword by U.S. Congressman Elijah E. Cummings is special to this book for several reasons. First, he is an HBCU graduate for all to be proud. His longstanding and celebrated political career is and has been positive for so many Marylanders and Americans, as he has worked to improve the lives of so many for decades. Second, Congressman Cummings does what so many HBCU graduates before him have done, which is not only be a shining example of the types of successful graduates that come from HBCUs, but champion their sustainability. Third, through his annual college fair, countless efforts to increase school funding and overall desire to lend his voice to support HBCUs, he is a true example of how, regardless of who or what you are, education must be a priority.

If HBCU Experience—The Book has the impact we seek, it will help bring into better perspective the true experience of an HBCU student. What we experienced was life changing, and we believe many people the world over will benefit by learning from our stories. Ultimately, for those who attended an HBCU, it is clear, but for others, there is still a great curiosity. We want to help feed that curiosity with this book.

Also, our aim is not to elevate the Black college experience above all other American educational experiences. On the contrary, we want to further underscore HBCUs proper, and often overlooked, place in higher education. We want to remind all concerned HBCUs still hold a unique place in our nation and the world.

*     *     *

Yes, our HBCUs are still relevant.

The last few decades have marked a notable increase in the number of Blacks who obtain higher education degrees, but many of those are from community colleges and for-profit institutions. While this trend is worth celebrating, it also has helped fuel the discussion of whether HBCUs are still relevant. We know numbers matter. So, here are a few. In 2011, a study published by the Review of Black Political Economy noted African Americans who graduate from HBCUs fair better financially than those who graduate from PWIs. The U.S. Department of Education reported Blacks who earn four-year college degrees have substantially higher incomes than those with only some college experience. And, while the statistics vary from year to year and report to report, it is consistently reported that HBCUs produce a large number of Black graduates. For example, according to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, HBCUs represent only three percent of America’s institutions of higher learning, but they graduate about 20 percent of African Americans who earn undergraduate degrees. Further, they produce more than 50 percent of African-American professionals and public school teachers.

HBCU Experience—The Book is a small, but hopefully significant contribution to the on-going effort to celebrate Black college life. Of the more than 100 HBCUs and the countless number of proud students who came through those hallowed halls, there are literally more stories than could ever adequately be told in a single book, or any other format for that matter. However, we must tell our stories, in whatever ways we can, to help honor those who count themselves among the ranks of HBCU graduates, for the future of our Black colleges and for the generations of in-coming freshman to come.

Tia C. M. Tyree, Ph.D.

Christopher D. Cathcart

FOREWORD

Education transformed my life for the better, and I will be forever grateful to the teachers, my parents and others who helped me on that journey. That is why I was so pleased and honored when Tia