LibGuides: Augie Reads 2019-2020: Between the World and Me: Howard University & HBCUs

Background

Coates’s experience at Howard University, a historically black university, affected his learning academically, socially, and politically. Consider how these resources on Howard and other historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) compare to Coates’s description of “the Mecca” and the various ways college has an impact on people inside and outside of the classroom.

Howard University & Historically Black Colleges and Universities

About Howard University
Coates attended Howard--a historically black university in Washington, DC--for five years, and the school played an important role in his understanding of what it means to be black in the United States. Howard has a prestigious law school, medical school, and other graduate and undergrad programs, and has graduated many famous alumni.
Howard University (1867- )
This brief article from Blackpast.org outlines the history of Howard University.
The Living Legacy: Black Colleges in the 21st Century
Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) were started to provide African-Americans an education at a time when educational institutions were segregated by law; these institutions continue to be important centers of education, research, and culture today. In this podcast, American RadioWorks looks at the history of HBCUs, and follows two students at Howard. While the entire podcast is interesting, the first half is especially relevant to Between the World and Me. The Living Legacy website also includes articles on the history of HBCUs and students at Howard University.
Still We Rise: The Continuing Case for America's Historically Black Colleges and Universities
While many educational institutions have faced financial challenges in the 21st century, HBCUs have been hit especially hard. In this article for American Prospect, a magazine that covers policy and politics from a progressive standpoint, social and economic researchers explain why HBCUs are still important, how racism affects them economically, and what they are doing to face today’s challenges.