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Time for black colleges to join forces
Dr. Ronald Mason, president of Jackson State University
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TEXT OF COMMENTARY
KAI RYSSDAL: Today, we're going to wrap up the conversation we've been having this week about the economic challenges facing African Americans, and we're going to be talking education. Specifically, the state of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. A lot of them are facing the facing the same budget problems other schools are, including Jackson State University, in Jackson, Miss.
Jackson State President Dr. Ronald Mason says it's time for those colleges to adapt or perish.
Dr. Ronald Mason: Historically black universities were one attempt to restore opportunities lost to slavery, segregation and discrimination. They continue to stand as the primary social, economic and educational foundation for the future of black people in many states, including Mississippi.
But today, many are poorer than other schools. Years of under-funding and lack of access to wealth have taken their toll. The gap between many of these schools and other institutions of higher learning continues to widen across the nation. In addition, "post-racial" America questions the need for these majority black institutions. Even black people are raising the question, if not with their voices, then with their school choices and tuition dollars.
For the sake of African American children, I think that it is time that these struggling black colleges and universities find ways to join forces. The move would create a new model to coordinate the facilities, programs and services of historically black schools. It would also create schools large enough to compete with other major mainstream universities.
Here in Mississippi, my institution should join with Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State universities. A united front would be greater than the sum of the parts. We could better weather the storm of deep budget cuts, hire better paid people, support more black contractors, play better football, raise more money and have a unified alumni and political base.
This is the blueprint for the next generation of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, a way to uplift black people that could truly take root. It's also a 21st century response to the legacy of institutional oppression of African Americans.
The conversation will be painful for many alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends of these universities. But it is necessary. It is important that we survive and compete at a higher level, for African Americans, for Mississippi and for America.
Ryssdal: Dr. Ronald Mason Jr. is the president of Jackson State University. It's in Jackson, Miss.
I believe that HBCU's are as necessary as all boy and all girl schools. Like homeschooling, they all serve their students in a very intimate way. My immediate family of five all graduated from Tuskegee University, and going to Homecoming every year is like going to a family reunion. It's the same at most HBCUs as well. To keep our HBCU's strong, alumni must continue to give more funds to preserve our universities. All colleges and universities are facing financial struggles, but they can thrive with everyone recognizing that combining our resources(financially, etc.) makes a difference. Each school in our nation, private and public, provides a unique experience. HBCU graduates have proven that our experience creates a strong foundation for young professionals. God bless HBCUs!
I heard Dr. Ronald Mason's commentary on NPR and as a graduate of Jackson State University, I could not believe what I was hearing. What is evident is that Dr Mason does not have the best interests of JSU at heart. Being complicit in Gov Hailey Barbour's plan to destroy Mississippi's strong tradition of HBCU producing black college graduates is not "progressive" or even honorable. Dr Mason's priorities of personal financial gain are painfully transparent.
Thank you Dr. Mason for proposing a pragmatic solution for extending the existence of HBCs in areas where left alone they cannot compete long term. I did not attend an HBC but my parents and siblings did and I think they benefited greatly.
I appreciate the points in previous blog responses about correcting the K-12 achievement gap for minorities as well as the recognition that great progress has been made in the civil rights movement in this country.
However, two basic facts lead me to your conclusion: 1. We are not a post racial society - yet, 2. Consolidation of HBCs where it makes sense is much more attainable in the short term than revamping K-12 education. We don't have to do both at the same time to reap benefits.
I'm a realist not an ideologue. I think your recommendation is imperfect but the best option for continuing the tradition of providing an HBC alternative for the foreseeable future.
Historically black colleges in any organizational form are irrelevant. Any planning for the future of these institutions should be founded on their becoming completely multi-racial within a generation. Continuing to pretend there is a need for black colleges does a direct disservice to blacks and, indirectely, to all of us.
I believe your conquest is admirable, however, you seem to be starting at the end rather than the beginning. First, in order to make a higher education system "fair and balanced," as one might put it, should we not have universal standards in our pedagogy? Second, I believe you must work backwards from higher education and have secondary education on the same playing field, nationally; giving each student a somewhat equal shot. I say somewhat equal because much of our secondary education revolves around child rearing and obviously, child rearing will never be equal. Third, if standards are the same, what is the point of a segregated institute of higher education? Shouldn't our goal be universal equal opportunity as we so eloquently preach and standardize, and profile. We are all on the same team, perhaps, we should build our base on that foundations?
Dr. Ronald Mason
Jackson State University
On March 5, 2010, I listened to your National Public Radio commentary on the survival of Historically Black Colleges. I believe your concept of developing an alliance between institutions is far too myopic and shallow to save the HBC’s. The K-12 pipeline within the African American community is so terrible in disrepair within a national environment of for profit public education, that we risk the permanent intellectual enslavement of 90% of African Americans. Ironically your commentary was on NPR Marketplace. The artificially created and economically maintained ghettos provide 90% of African Americans inferior ill funded K-12 education. Solving the HBC student supply problems along with better management and comparable federal and state funding would be a better solution. I would hope for a broader and deeper proposal for the survival and growth of HBC institutions but I am not surprised. Dying institutions ringed together will cannibalize each other leading to a communal slow death.
