Date: 2002-09-18
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in proclaiming September 15September 21. 2002. as National Historically Black Colleges and Universities week. The quest for reasonable parity in the American social order for African Americans rests with education. It is fair to state that the HBCUs of America have been and continue to be the equal opportunity colleges and universities of the higher education institutions in America. The racial progress made socially. economically. politiqally and educationally by AfricanAmericans has been made because of the existence of these institutions. Currently. there are 118 historically black colleges and universities in the United States. A brief review of the history of education for AfricanAmericans in this country will reveal that the HBCUs were elementary schools for the freed slaves and their progenies. They were secondary schools for AfricanAmericans when there was not a public education system. And HBCUs became colleges to provide higher education programs for AfricanAmericans when the time was appropriate and education could be sustained by a critical mass of AfricanAmericans who had graduated with secondary education achieved. They were only a group of colleges and universities which produced a critical mass. of well educated AfricanAmericans who were teachers. lawyers. doctors. ministers. social workers. pharmacists. etc. for leadership in the Black community. Because of the existence of the schools. repressive segregated laws were challenged. our right to vote was achieved. as well as our right to participate in every facet of the American society. As such. these institutions have proven their ability to transform the prospective and quality of life for AfricanAmerican citizens. They stand poised now to provide another great service to America and to AfricanAmerican people. The HBCUs are ready to respond to the call of our President to leave no child behind. We propose now to engage the HBCUs in a national urban thrust to equalize the College going rate for urban youth. In so doing. we transform urban America. Historically Black Colleges and Universities have been proclaimed the salvation of black folks. HBCUs are credited with making higher education financially attainable for those whom otherwise would not be able to afford postsecondary education. They tout significant success rates because they are good at providing remedial preparation for students who start out with weak highschool backgrounds. These institutions provide a supportive social. cultural and racial environment for people of color who are seeking a college education and perform a remarkable task of educating almost 85 percent of the countrys Black College graduates. Historically Black Colleges and Universities have educated 75 percent of Black Ph.Ds. 46 percent of all Black business executives. 50 percent of Black engineers. and 80 percent Federal judges. In addition. the historically Black healthprofessional schools have trained an estimated 40 percent of the nations Black dentists. 50 percent of Black pharmacists and 75 percent of the nations Black veterinarians. HBCUs have educated an estimated 50 percent of the nations Black attorneys and 75 percent of Black Military officers. They have produced Congressional representatives. state legislators. writers. musicians. actors. engineers. journalists. teachers. scholars. judges. pilots. activists. business leaders. lawyers and doctors. Today I ask that my fellow members of Congress salute and acknowledge Historically Black Colleges and Universities. the presidents. faculties. staff. and trustees of the 118 institutions for their vigorous and persistent efforts in support of equal opportunity in higher education. I also ask that Congress further commend the students who benefit from Historically Black Colleges and Universities for their pursuit of academic excellence and request that the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States and interested groups to conduct appropriate ceremonies. activities. and programs to demonstrate support for historically black colleges and universities in the United States.