HBCUs: Let’s Get in Formation
By Ms. Lauren A. Wilson, Columnist
The highly-anticipated Homecoming documentary produced by Beyoncé was expectedly satisfying, exciting, and full of Black pride. A 200-person band including dancers, singers, and orchestras that she recruited from HBCs made transitions between each song adding some HBCU spice, highlighting the Divine Nine, and sang, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
“The amount of swag is limitless,” said Beyoncé. I burst with pride understanding the meaning behind every detail of the two-hour performance. Makes me wonder if the Coachella audience truly understood what they were witnessing.
Highlighting HBCUs could not have come at a better time. It seems that now, more than ever, HBCUs are losing accreditation and are on the verge of closing. I see it as a huge loss every time we lose a historically Black institution of higher learning because they hold such a rich history in providing an upstanding education and opportunities to people of color like me.
Lack of funds, misuse of funds, loss of government funding, uneducated administration, lack of alumni support, and low student enrollment are some of the factors that play into HBCUs’ failing. I am not a part of the Beyhive; however, I could not wait for Homecoming to be released. I even convinced my father to watch it with me and he stayed awake the entire time!
I am a product of two HBCUs, AME-founded Wilberforce University and Claflin University, a United Methodist-affiliated institution. I am a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and faithfully commit to homecomings every year, attending the Honda Battle of the Bands in Atlanta every year. I serve as a college advisor to an all-Black high school and encourage them to consider an HBCU.
While watching this perfect production, I could not help but wonder what if we loved HBCUs the way we love Beyoncé? The Beyhive would go to the end of the earth for Beyoncé. They will harass, protest, advocate, sacrifice their human existence, and whatever else to preserve Beyoncé’s name and integrity. Why can’t we do that for our amazing institutions?
It took Beyoncé acknowledging HBCUs in order for people to show an ounce of love to them. Though I am grateful because it sometimes takes a powerful voice to bring something to light, I wish this did not have to happen in order for people to be prideful and acknowledge HBCUs.
So, now that she has your attention, how can we show love to HBCUs? Try starting a school fund offering at your church or organization; donate supplies such as paint and tools; join an alumni chapter; become a mentor to a student; attend the National Alumni Conferences to learn the issues and needs of institutions; and offer your services.
Any churches located near HBCUs and surrounding areas can go there one Saturday each month and help clean the campus, plant flowers, organize the library, and spend time with students. Consider sending care packages to students in need; donating a dollar for every year the school has been open; offering to pay for a textbook for a student who can’t afford it; or telling the school president about your concerns for the school.
These small gestures make a huge difference. It may not be much but it is something. We are the first to complain about our schools failing but do not contribute significant funds to save the institution that granted us our degree. It’s time to be realistic about the state of some of our HBCUs. Many are failing and will close if we do not help.
So, shout out to Bey for lighting a fire. Now, let’s keep the fire lit. It’s time to get into formation!
Ms. Lauren A. Wilson, M.Ed. (“Law”) is the college advisor at Satellite Academy High School in New York, New York, where she helps students in this predominantly minority serving transfer school to envision and navigate their future educational endeavors. She has been published in EBONYand has a long-standing history of presenting at conferences, sessions, and panel discussions on subjects ranging from self-esteem in young people to the importance of education and HBCU awareness.
