Black Colleges And Diversity

In a recent post on “Jesse Jackson and Diversity at Black Colleges,” I commented on how the new mantra of “diversity” would seem to have dire implications for black colleges, now widely known as HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities).

In reply to my query as to whether there were any inducements for non-blacks to attend, several readers commented (see the “Say What?” comments to the post linked above) that indeed some white scholarships were requires in consent decrees or other legal settlements to lawsuits in North Carolina, Mississippi, and Alabama. (As a general rule, public scholarships limited by race have been illegal, at least in the Fourth Circuit, since Podberesky v. Kirwan [1994, cert. denied 1995]).

I’ve now looked into this a bit more (amazing how Google enables anyone to become an instant expert on anything), and I’m now even more convinced that the increasing insistence that diversity is a compelling public interest — so compelling, in fact, that it passes the “strict scrutiny” test and justifies setting aside the bar to racial classification and differential treatment — poses an underappreciated threat to HBCUs. In addition, it raises questions about the sincerity of some of the arguments, or arguers, in its favor, since we haven’t seen Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, et. al. mount campaigns to increase diversity at those institutions.

Although the number of non-minorities at HBCUs has increased over the last decade, most are still predominantly black. According to figures provided by the Joint Center for Urban Studies, based on data from the National Center for Education Statistics, there were 280,071 students enrolled in HBCUs, of whom 35,963 (7.78%) were white.

The following list, taken from 2002 data provided by the Black Excel Newsletter, shows the percentage of whites (rounded to the nearest percent) at a number of HBCUs. I can’t vouch for the accuracy of these numbers, but they do correspond to 1997 numbers for a smaller selection of schools on the web site of the reliable Joint Center for Urban Studies linked above.

Alabama State University (AL)– 6% white

Albany State University (GA)–5% white

Alcorn State University (MS)–5% white

Arkansas Baptist College (AR)– 1% white

Barber Soctia College (NC)–4% white

Bethune-Cookman (FL)–2% white

Bowie State University (MD)– 8% white

Central State University (OH)–4% white

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania (PA) –0% white

Claflin University (SC)–1% white

Clark Atlanta University (GA) –0% white

Coppin State University (MD)–1% white

Delaware State University (DE)– 18% white

Dillard University (LA)–1% white

Elizabeth City State University (NC)–20%

Florida A&M University (FL)–3% white

Fisk University (TN)–0% white

Fort Valley State University (GA)–3% white

Hampton University (VA)–3%

Howard University (DC)– 0%

Jackson State University (MS)–1% white

Jarvis Christian College (TX)– 4% white

Johnson C. Smith University (NC)–0%

Kentucky State University (KY)–34% white

Lane College (TN)–0% white

Lincoln University (PA)–1% white

Livingstone College (NC) –2% white

Miles College (AL)–0%

Mississippi Valley State University (MS)–3% white

Morehouse College (GA)–1% white

Morgan State University (MD) –2% white

Morris College (SC)–0% whites

Morris Brown College (GA)– 1% white

North Carolina A&T State University (NC)–6% white

Norfolk State University (VA)– 6% white

Paine College (GA)–1% white

Philander Smith College (AR)–1% white

Prairie View A&M University (TX)–4% white

Rust College (MS) –1% white

St. Augustine’s College (NC)–1% white

Shaw University (NC)–13% white

South Carolina State University (SC)–2% white

Southern University and A&M College (LA)–2% white

Southern University at New Orleans (LA)–6% white

Spelman College (GA)–1% white

Stillman College (AL)–2% white

Tennessee State University (TN)–15% white

Tougaloo College (MS)–0% white

Tuskegee University (AL)–1% white

University of the District of Columbia (DC)– 11%

University of Maryland at Eastern Shore (MD) –18% white

Virginia State University (VA)–2% white

Voorhees College (SC)– 1% white

Wiley College (TX) –3% white

Winston-Salem State University–13% white

Xavier University of Louisiana (LA)– 1% white

(Data from several sources, including US News & World Report 2002 College Edition. Undergraduate stats. Note that 0% doesn’t necessarily mean that no white students are on campus. Totals like .09, 1.09, etc. are not recorded here.)

Of course, these days, especially in our new world of diversity, numbers for blacks and whites do not tell the whole story. According to the Joint Center, in 1994 there were 5,012 Hispanics (0.018%), 2,429 Asians (0.009%), and 551 Native Americans (0.002%) enrolled in HBCUs.

Perhaps more telling than the absence of actual diversity at so many HBCUs is the fact that diversity is often not valued, especially at the more selective private HBCUs. According to the Joint Center,

Spelman and Morehouse, single-sex institutions in Atlanta, are among the top schools in the country with virtually all-black enrollments. In 1994, Spelman’s student body was 97.5 percent black. Morehouse’s was 99.3 percent.

Both schools are private, and neither has made any grand overture to recruit whites.

“Any student that is qualified and wants to come can come,” said Walter Massey, president of Morehouse. “We are not trying to recruit a different kind of student.”

Officials at Spelman College also say they don’t recruit whites.

“Our position is that we are open to anyone who wishes to apply,” said Spelman Provost Glenda Price. “We will admit you without regard to race, if you meet our admission requirements, but we are not actively recruiting white students.”

….

Frank Matthews, publisher of Black Issues in Higher Education, said black schools are on thin ice when they tinker with their missions. HBCUs with high white enrollments basically have changed their identities and character, he said. “I’m a black nationalist,” Matthews said. “I’d like to see more Spelmans and Morehouses. There have to be places you can be in a predominantly black environment. The best education is not necessarily an integrated one.”

Michigan may think diversity compelling, but Morehouse and Spelman obviously don’t. Moreover, as I’ve argued before, in practice diversity at selective institutions like Michigan amounts to using blacks for the benefit of whites. If racial preferences are ended, the whites and Asians at Michigan will be exposed to fewer blacks, and their education thereby less diverse (unless, of course, Michigan, like Texas, California, and Florida, adopts other, race-neutral means of achieving diversity). The no longer preferentially admitted minorities, however, can still reap the benefits of diversity at less selective institutions. For this not to be true, “diversity” would have to be simply a euphemism for a benefit to minorities, but that’s not how it’s defended.

Say What? (5)

  1. Jim Douglas December 11, 2002 at 5:58 pm | | Reply

    1. Let me see if I understand you correctly. Because the white deans of certain selective colleges, and certain black reverends without churches, believe that diversity is a compelling public interest, the black deans and administrators of certain unrelated selective and not so selective colleges are required to share the same beliefs. Where is your appreciation of intellectual diversity?

    2. Do you accept the diversity rationale or is this just more cynical gamesmanship?

    3. How did the “whites and Asians” word pairing come into being? All of the complaining and suing seems to be coming from the whites, not the Asians. Do Asians appreciate being used as a hammer with which to hit the black and Hispanic races over the head with? Isn’t the tactic of using Asians as a weapon against blacks and Hispanics just as divisive as the racial preferences themselves?

    4. You mention “Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, et. al.” Who else are we to assume you mean? After Jesse and Al, the only republican buzzwords left seem to be Maxine Watters, Louis Farrakhan and Johnnie Cochran. Again, who else belongs on the list?

  2. John Rosenberg December 11, 2002 at 8:39 pm | | Reply

    Jim –

    No. 1 – Administrators of HBCUs are not required to believe anything. Civil rights leaders and those who agree with them in majority white institutions are required to believe that diversity is as important at Morehouse as at Michigan — if, that is, they really believe what they say about diversity and care about being consistent.

    No. 2 – Not sure what this question means. Yes, I believe diversity is a Good Thing. I don’t believe skin color is a valid proxy for it. No, I don’t believe it provides a sufficient rationale for racial discrimination.

    No. 3 – I linked whites and Asians because they receive no racial preferences; blacks and Hispanics do. I don’t know what Asians appreciate. I suspect that “progressive” Asians, like other “progressives,” support preferences, and that those Asians who are excluded to make room for less qualified blacks and Hispanics probably don’t. Who is “using Asians as a weapon against blacks and Hispanics”: those who give racial/ethnic preferences only to blacks and Hispanics, or those who criticize that practice? Your comment reminds me of blaming abolitionists, rather than slavery, for being “divisive.”

    4. I mean anyone who says “diversity” is compelling enough to justify discrimination here but not so important there. I’m sure my list of Jackson and Sharpton is incomplete.

  3. Melody February 7, 2003 at 10:05 am | | Reply

    I am seeking info. on the influx of Asian students in HBCUs. If you have anything that might be helpful, please contact me at the above mentioned e-mail address.

  4. Anonymous February 7, 2003 at 10:05 am | | Reply

    I am seeking info. on the influx of Asian students in HBCUs. If you have anything that might be helpful, please contact me at the above mentioned e-mail address.

  5. Quayshawn August 17, 2004 at 11:14 pm | | Reply

    This article is interesting and quite well-written. Nevertheless, I think the motivation to write it stems from several misunderstandings.

    First, while you are right that preferential treatment (PT) uses blacks for the benefit of whites, this is a far cry from exploitation since blacks are better off from having attended the schools that employ PT. As you know, they graduate at higher rates, but they also have greater earning power due to the connections and prestige that their college brings them. Being on the job market as a black Cornellian is much easier than being on the job market as just black. Also, blacks use non-blacks at these schools as well since having learned in a diverse environment certainly enhances their education.

    Second, you conflate ‘discrimination’ with ‘differential treatment.’ The two are separate concepts. In short, differential treatment is not unjust treatment, while discrimination is. The question is what rights of Whites and Asians are being violated with PT? They don’t deserve to attend these colleges, and they certainly don’t merit the spots. See my article “Affirmative Action” for clarification, which is located on my website.

    Finally, the diversity argument isn’t saying that racial diversity is intrinsically good; it’s saying that racial diversity is instrumentally good. The distinction between these two types of goods is fundamental in ethics. The idea is that racial diversity is good only insofar as its consequences are good, not that it’s good unconditionally. So while racial diversity might be good at elite colleges, this doesn’t automatically carry over to it being good at HBCUs. In fact, too much racial diversity would be lethal to an HBCU, by definition of ‘HBCU’, since it would no longer be a black college. The reasoning for maintaining HBCUs is that given the unfortunate circumstance of American racism, it makes sense to have colleges that can serve as safe-havens for blacks. The same argument applies for American sexism and all female colleges. Psychologists have known for years that having racial safe-havens is a healthy thing. See Beverly Tatum’s ‘Why are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria?’ So the claim isn’t that racial diversity is intrinsically good, it’s just that it’s usually good, at least in colleges, and certainly good at elite colleges.

Say What?