5 Under Recognized HBCUs & Their Legacy
When people think of HBCUs, the “Big Three” often come to mind: Howard, Morehouse, and Spelman. While there’s no doubt that these schools are definitely more renowned, there are still 104 other HBCUs with rich legacies. Many don’t even know that Spelman isn’t the only women’s college that exists. To this point, there are many schools that are rarely seen and don’t receive much public attention - hidden gems if you will. With HBCUs being the topic of discussion lately, it’s important we educate ourselves on the smaller institutions, whose impact runs just as deep as the more famous ones.
Wilberforce University
Located in Wilberforce, Ohio, Wilberforce University is the nation’s oldest, private HBCU owned and operated by African Americans. The university was founded in 1856, back when the education of African Americans was illegal. When the institution was bought by the Methodist Episcopal Church, it was transformed into a place of refuge for slaves, and educating them was a priority. After dealing with a closure in 1862, due to the Civil War, Bishop Daniel A. Payne bought the school and was appointed President, making him the first African American to lead a university. Once construction began for the new campus in 1967, the state of Ohio bought the old campus for $600,000, and it later became the location for the National Museum of Afro-American History and Culture.
Rust College
Founded in 1866 by the Freedman's Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Rust College is the second oldest, private college in Mississippi. Initially, the school was chartered as Shaw University, but the name was later changed to Rust University in 1882 to honor Richard S. Rust, the Secretary of the Freedman’s Aid Society. During the Reconstruction era, the students served as a base for Republican political support in Marshall County and offered former slaves an education. But what makes this college so historic is the fact that it was founded by a former slave, Rev. Moses Adams, and was initially established as a church school for all ages at Asbury Methodist Church. It later became Rust College in 1915.
Tougaloo College
Another Mississippi institution, this time in Jacksonville, Tougaloo College was founded in 1869 by the American Missionary Association. Its sole purpose was to provide teacher and industrial training for African Americans. Almost 100 years after being founded, the school appointed a president, Dr. Adam Beittel, that would establish the school as a haven during the Civil Rights Movement in the state of Mississippi. The students during this time protested against racial discrimination and would often participate in protests and sit-ins. Many students were arrested for protesting at the businesses and for trying to attend segregated white churches and concerts. However, Dr. Beittel would often bail the students out of jail. Tougaloo College played a vital role in advancing the Black community in Jackson, Mississippi; the center of the Civil Rights Movement.
Talladega College
Talladega College was founded in 1865 by two former slaves, Thomas Tarrant and William Savery. Their sole purpose in chartering this school in Alabama was to provide an education to the children of former slaves. It started out as a one-room schoolhouse, and it eventually saw an influx of students that started to become too much for the small space. Two years after its initial founding, Tarrant and Savery reached out to General Wager Swayne of the Freedmen's Bureau to acquire the Baptist Academy that was nearby; a building constructed with slave labor for white students. Thanks to the General persuading the American Missionary Association, the founders were able to buy the building and 20 acres of land for $23,000 and eventually named the building Swayne School out of gratitude. In 1869, Swayne School was issued a charter as Talladega College and would become the home of the state's first college dedicated to servicing the educational needs of blacks. Talladega is also home to the Amistad Murals that depict Black resistance over the years.
Bennett College
Remember that other women’s college I mentioned earlier? It’s called Bennett College and was founded in 1873 in Greensboro, North Carolina by former slaves and achieved accreditation in 1889. However, the school was actually run out of Warnersville Methodist Episcopal Church, and it started out being a co-ed institution for elementary and secondary level studies. It wasn't until 1926 when the Women’s Home Missionary Society joined with the Board of Education of the church to make Bennett College a college for women. Aside from this, the women of Bennett College, also known as Bennett Belles, were very involved in the Greensboro sit-ins during the Civil Rights Movement. They also were very passionate about the limiting roles that African American actors were awarded in the 1930s and picketed the Carolina Theater in 1938.
When advocating for HBCUs, it’s important to remember the smaller ones who would benefit from the resources that are mainly given to the bigger named schools. These schools have been making lasting contributions in their own way, and their legacies are rooted in resilience. Simply put, they too are an essential part of the HBCU story.