Trey Kay Published

Us & Them: HBCUs Surround Students With Black Excellence While Aiming For A Global Experience

Historically Black - Image
Historically Black, Currently Adapting
Listen

Born from an era of segregated educational opportunities when Black students were not welcome at predominantly white schools, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have been focused on surrounding students with Black excellence.

Today, HBCUs are no longer exclusive. In fact, some schools — like Morgan State University — are actively recruiting a more diverse population to provide a more global experience to prepare graduates for the future. In West Virginia, white students already make up a significant majority of the enrollment at the state’s two HBCUs.

Us & Them host Trey Kay looks at this era of intense competition for students and how some of the nation’s 100-plus HBCUs are adapting for the future.

Support this Reporting

This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the West Virginia Humanities Council, the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, the CRC Foundation and the Daywood Foundation.

Yacob Astatke, MSU - Photo
Trey Kay
/
Dr. Yacob Astatke is the assistant vice president for International Affairs at Morgan State University. He came to Morgan as an international student from Ethiopia in 1988 to study engineering and has been there ever since – first as a professor and now as an administrator.
Morgan State University Campus - Photo
Morgan State University
/
Holmes Hall on the campus of Morgan State University.
MSU Students on Campus
Morgan State University
/
Students on the campus of Morgan State University. MSU is not an exclusively Black institution, but the student body is predominantly comprised of persons of African heritage.
WVSU Campus
West Virginia State University
/
West Virginia State University is an HBCU that has a predominantly white student body.
Sharon Smith Banks - Photo
Trey Kay
/
Sharon Smith Banks worked at West Virginia State University for 30 years. From 1990 to 2021. During her time at State, many students referred to her as Mama Banks. She is photographed here next to the grave marker of Samuel Cabell in a Cabell Family Graveyard on the WVSU campus. Cabell was a plantation owner, who produced a family with Mary Barnes, who one of his slaves. The couple provided their 15 children with an exceptional education and they went on to become accomplished citizens. Portions of the original Cabell plantation was sold to the state of West Virginia and the West Virginia Colored Institute was founded in 1891, which has subsequently become West Virginia State University.
Eric Jackson
Trey Kay
/
Eric Jackson is the interim Chief of Staff at West Virginia State University. He is also the Title III administrator for institution, which oversees the special federal funding they receive for being an HBCU.
Ben Trujillo - Photo
Trey Kay
/
Ben Trujillo is a student at West Virginia State University. He was adopted into a mixed race family. He says he chose to attend State because he was looking for a learning experience that was “more minority driven” and where he could “interact with individuals who are maybe culturally aligned with me.”
Devon Pring - Photo
Trey Kay
/
Devon Pring is among the majority of white students attending West Virginia State University. He comes from rural West Virginia and had little interaction with people of color in his public school education. He says he’s learning more than just academics at State. He feels like he’s now more aware of other cultures and the Black struggle in America.
Jasmine Coleman
Trey Kay
/
Jasmine Coleman attends West Virginia State University for the nursing program and is also part of the majorette dance team. She says it was important for her to study at an HBCU because she grew up with little support in her education pursuits. She felt an HBCU would help her financially, socially and mentally.

Add WVPB as a preferred source on Google to see more from our team

Google Preferred Source Badge

Tags Related to This Article

Related News

Arts & Culture Andrea "river" Peterson,

Appalachian Artists Sing Their Opposition To Data Centers

Appalachia has a rich history of protest music. Today, some regional musicians are using their voices to oppose data centers being built across Appalachia and the artificial intelligence they power. Folkways Reporter Andrea “river” Peterson has more.

Continue Reading Take Me to More News
Arts & Culture Wendy Welch,

Crochet World Tangled Up With AI Is A Knotty Problem

AI proponents say the technology will revolutionize our lives. It’s also started a conversation about creativity and what’s really art. That applies to kinds of expression that seem to have nothing to do with machines, like crochet. Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch brings us this story of how crocheters found AI invading their communal spaces and what they plan to do about it.

Continue Reading Take Me to More News
Arts & Culture Chris Schulz,

Urban Cryptids, Rediscovering Local Musicians And Covering Data Centers, This West Virginia Week

On this West Virginia Week, urban cryptids get us into the Halloween spirit, a researcher revives forgotten musicians and a conversation with a journalist covering data center development.

Continue Reading Take Me to More News
A green, white, and blue graphic. Text on the graphic reads, "Sponsor WVPB Today!" and the WVPB logo.