The HBCU renaissance, explained
HBCUs are having a moment. Many historically Black colleges and universities have seen record-breaking enrollment numbers in their recent freshman classes. But on the flip side of that surge, Black freshman enrollment is actually down by 27 percent among the top 50 most selective institutions in the United States. And there are some big explanations […]
Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are currently experiencing a surge in enrollment, with many institutions seeing record-breaking numbers of freshman students. However, this positive trend is not reflected at the top 50 most selective colleges in the United States, where Black freshman enrollment has actually declined by 27 percent. Various factors have contributed to these shifts in the landscape of higher education.
The evolution of higher education from the eras of segregation to the civil rights movement and the racial politics of the Trump era has forced Black students to adapt on college campuses across the nation. Government mandates, school policies, and the dismantling of affirmative action have all impacted the educational experiences of Black students over the years.
In this Vox video series, "Kahlil Explains," hosted by Kahlil Greene, the first episode delves into the history of HBCUs and the experiences of Black college students to explain why Black student enrollment is growing at HBCUs but declining at other elite institutions.
Written by urgent.news from Vox's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
