Ask almost any high school junior or senior, and they’ll tell you that the college search is stressful. With so many aspects to consider—location, majors, tuition costs, student life, and more—it can be difficult to find the right fit. But there’s another facet of college conspicuously missing from this list: culture. At a Historically Black College or University, or HBCU, Black culture is a top priority. While open to anyone, HBCUs aim to educate students of African descent and prepare them for success, acknowledging the disparity in opportunities between the Black population and other races.
All HBCUs were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Following the abolition of slavery, Black people were denied an education due to racial segregation; it was the efforts of Black churches, the Freedmen’s Bureau, and abolitionist groups like the American Missionary Association that created the foundation for a safe and educational space for Black Americans. HBCUs gained more traction in the late 17th century, when legislative documents like the Second Morrill Act of 1890 were initiated, granting federal lands to establish universities throughout the nation.
Since then, HBCUs have created spaces for activism and been springboards for some of the great minds of our time. For centuries, discriminatory admissions policies have limited Black Americans’ access to higher educational institutions, but HBCUs have consistently provided opportunities and community. Although HBCUs were originally created to provide Black students with basic skills for employment, today, there are over 100 HBCUs in America, many of which are among the most prestigious and well-known educational institutions in the country.
North Carolina is home to 11 HBCUs, which vary in size and area, but all provide a uniquely African American experience. Located right in downtown Raleigh, one of these 11 HBCUs is in close proximity to Enloe. Founded in 1865, Raleigh’s Shaw University is the oldest HBCU in the South. While Shaw has a smaller population, North Carolina is also home to the largest HBCU in the nation, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University—otherwise known as NC A&T—in Greensboro.
From larger public universities like NC A&T and NC Central to smaller schools like Shaw and Charlotte’s Johnson C. Smith University, North Carolina HBCUs offer a unique experience, not only in their culture and perspective but also in their education. For example, Elizabeth City State University is the only college in the state with an aviation science program; its location gives students an opportunity to fly planes and connect directly with airlines.
An interview with Aeiress Stancil, an Enloe alumnus and freshman at the HBCU Spelman College, revealed more about life and culture at an HBCU. Like most other schools, Spelman offers a large variety of organizations. “We have students that observe different traditions… we celebrate everybody here. We have different divinity groups here, [and] we have clubs for LGBTQ students,” says Stancil. Many of these organizations have a Black focus, such as the Afro-Latina group. As Stancil points out, “We’re all Black in a way, but we’re all different. Black people are not monolithic. That’s something I’ve definitely learned while I’m here.”
To Black students afraid that HBCUs focus more on culture than academics, Stancil assures that Spelman has given her not only quality education, but numerous learning opportunities in the form of exchange programs, scholarships, and more. “I probably get the same education as at other schools, but [Spelman] is so small that you really do connect with your professors,” she says. “There’s usually programs that are catered to HBCU students… I applied for this internship for Berkeley [that’s] just for Spelman students.”
Despite the ample opportunities she’s received, Stancil notes that as a small school, Spelman doesn’t offer as many majors as other competitive schools. She warns applicants considering HBCUs not to fixate on the school’s HBCU status, and instead consider the school as a whole. “Don’t think about it as an HBCU or not,” she advises. “Think about it logistically. Do they have your major? Do they have the classes you need to take if they don’t have your major? Is there a club or organization you can be a part of? Is there a club or organization you can make? What can you do to make your experience true to yourself?”
When asked why she herself chose Spelman, Stancil highlights the influence of the school’s culture, mission, and motto. Stancil states, “We have our motto as a choice to change the world, and they really implement that in us… Everybody here has made the choice to change the world… I personally try to think about that every day. I came here to change the world.”
