Let me break it down for ya'll. I just finished Morehouse in December 2003, so I can definitely speak on whether HBCU's are worth it.
Yes they are and I think we should support them to the fullest.
Everybody in here seems to be complaining about something or the other, and they majority of it pretty much seems to be some petty stuff, however I will address what ya'll said though...
Lack of Organization - Ok, granted a lot of HBCUs are disorganized to a point, but you have to realized most HBCU's don't have the money to get the top staff and faculty available. Most people looking for jobs go to whoever offers the most, right or wrong? So if Morehouse and Howard are trying to recruit employees and Georgia Tech and University of Maryland - College Park and going for the same employees, who do you think is gonna win out? Also realize this same money problem means many HBCUs are understaffed, so you usually have one person doing multiple thing (ie a Resident Director that also works in the Housting Department and Student Services office). Also, you have a lot of HBCUs that still rely on paper systems instead of computer systems, and when you do that you're bound to be disorganized. Many HBCUs are in the process of making that switch though (I know Morehouse didn't swtich over fully until 1999).
Financial Aid - Ok, everybody has financial aid issues. I've had them myself, but here's one thing to realize about that. HBCUs are the most tolerant of stuff like that. For instance Morehouse, you got I don't know how many weeks without having your money situation taken care of, all you have to do is talk to Financial Aid and file for hardship. See what happens if you don't have your money in on time at a white school, you have to vacate the dorm and you can't go to your classes at all.
Lack of Majors - This simply just isn't true. HBCUs have just as many majors as white schools. They may not all be at the same school (ie Spelman doesn't have a Business program, but Clark-Atlanta and Morehouse do), but you can find pretty much any major you want at HBCUs.
Rudeness of Staff/Faculty - Some people say this is a legitimate gripe and that may be true to a point. But have ya'll ever considered what kinda crap these people have to go through everyday. Students yell and curse at them, parents do the same, they're overworked and underpaid and most of the time they get lambasted for something that's even not their resposibility (ie students getting angry with Registrar when a teacher gives you a grade you don't think you deserve, or parents yelling at Financial Aid instead of Student Accounts when unknown charges appear on a students account). And then it's like professors have to be somewhat abrasive, cause if not they'll get walked on. Teachers don't get respected if they're "nice". Folk come into class with ringing cellphones, wearing hats, bringing food (not snacks, but like wings and burgers), having conversation during the lecture. The teacher pretty much has to act out to get any attention. But from my experiences the black professors I had cared a lot more about me that I could tell. For instance in most cases at white schools professors will just let you fail a class, while at HBCUs the professor will pull you aside after class or holla at you in their offices.
Lack of Activities - That's not the HBCU's fault, that's your fault. Like if you pick an HBCU out in the middle of nowhere, don't complain that there's nothing to do. You should have visited the area before you got there. Or maybe ya'll just don't know how to have fun. Last time I checked HBCUs bury white schools in terms of fun and campus life (unless you like beer bashes, frat parties, and stuff like that). New buildings, and new campus activities and stuff cost money, so unless your gonna pay more money for school or raise it yourself, don't complain about it.
Housing - I'll say it again new buildings cost money. Are you willing to have your tuition jump up $1,000 to pay for a new dorm that probably won't be finished until you've graduated anyway?
I think that's everything people were whining about. I don't mean to be mean, but it's like some folk just need to grow up. The faults of HBCUs are actually part of what strengthen people that go to them. It prepares you for the real world, where everything thing not gonna go perfect. I'll let ya'll in on a secret, there are long lines in the real world; you may not like the first house or apartment you can afford, you will have to deal with some rude people in the real world, important paperwork will get lost (that's why you always have a copy); and so on.
The reason HBCUs may seem to be going down hill is because people complain about them and don't do jack to make them better. If you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem. And things aren't going to get any better if black folk keep bailing out on the HBCUs and going to white schools.
HBCUs are a great thing. They were great for me because I grew up in an all white neighborhood. I went to an almost all white elementary school. My middle school and high school were mixed, but a lot of the black folks weren't doing jack with their lives. They were drinking, doing ****, getting pregnant, and so on. A lot of them were totally satisfied with finishing high school, others were just **** for community college, while others thought the only way they could have a future was in the military (and no I'm not downing military folks). Being at an HBCU was good cause it was good to be around black people doing something with themselves and growing to be the world's future leaders and stuff.
