HBCU Week: Recognizing Our Schools
Did you know that there’s an entire week devoted to celebrating our HBCUs?
Since the mid-19th century, HBCUs have been the pillars of Black excellence. From leaders in politics, science, entertainment, and everything in between, there’s no doubt that HBCUs deserve recognition for their contributions to society. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter understood just that and created National HBCU Week.
Usually held in either the second or third week of September, HBCU Week is a federally designated observance that highlights the relevance of HBCUs. The week pays tribute to their legacy of higher education and its promotion of equal opportunity. Following the launch of the program, every single president since then has signed an executive order altering and extending the previous one while maintaining the basic principles. To celebrate, the annual National HBCU Week Conference is held and is the largest gathering of key influencers in the HBCU space. While programming for this year has yet to be announced, the HBCU community remains hopeful that yearly tradition will still remain strong.
The HBCU Week Conference is planned under the leadership of the White House Initiative on HBCUs—a sector of the U.S. Department of Education. With a different theme each year, the conference acknowledges the impact our institutions have on the world and recognizes select scholars and alumni from our communities. Last year, the theme was “Raising the Bar: Where Excellence and Opportunity Meet.” Throughout the week, attendees were able to listen and participate in discussions around the future of AI in our schools, safeguarding our schools, and how much the Initiative believes in and pours into HBCUs.
Aside from the discussions, the Initiative also holds an HBCU career fair for students, alumni, and job seekers alike. From internship, to fellowship, to full-time job opportunities, attendees have the opportunity to meet and foster relationships with companies that are looking to diversify their talent. For those that are interested in meeting federal partner agencies of the Initiative, a Federal Agency Meet & Greet is held with 30+ federal agencies to learn about the current program offerings, resources, opportunities, and initiatives underway to advance educational equity, excellence, and economic opportunity in partnership with HBCUs.
HBCU Week is more than just a celebration. It’s about spotlighting the national commitment to educational equity. Sometimes, federal backing and monetary donations aren’t enough. Building a direct pipeline of opportunity for students to take advantage of is just as important.
As mentioned earlier, this year’s conference has yet to be announced. However, there is still other programming happening to commemorate HBCU Week. Maryland Public Television is presenting a lineup during the week of September 8–14 that features documentaries, interviews, and specials that highlight HBCU history, leadership, and innovation. Recently, it also expanded its themes to include the contributions made to entertainment! Overall, HBCU Week blends celebration, policy, and systematic partnership to uplift our institutions. This designated week ensures that our HBCUs remain connected and stable to shape our future leaders.
