Chapter 7: Literacy and Liberation: Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Culturally Relevant Praxis

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) represent a unique and diverse set of mission-specific institutions of higher education. Established prior to 1865, these 2-and 4-year campuses were founded with the explicit purpose of supporting and expanding educational opportunities for Black students. Mobley (2017) described HBCUs as one of the few spaces where, “Black culture is placed at the forefront, appreciated, and sustained” (p. 1036). As of 2020, there were 101 HBCUs located in 19 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, enrolling approximately 279,000 students (National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2022). Although these institutions continue to diversify in terms of the enrollment of students from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds, Black students comprise about 76% of enrollment at HBCUs (NCES, 2022).