At Texas Southern College, a Houston-based traditionally Black college, Vice President Kamala Harris’ nomination to steer the Democratic ticket has sparked a way of “delight and motivation,” in response to sociology professor Carla Brailey.
Seeing Harris, an HBCU graduate, “on the cusp of creating historical past” as she runs to develop into the primary lady to function U.S. president has sparked campuswide discussions on management and pursuing bold objectives, Brailey mentioned in an electronic mail.
“College students and college view VP Harris as a job mannequin embodying the success and management qualities the college goals to instill,” Brailey mentioned.
Harris, a Howard College alum, is amongst an extended listing of public officers on the nationwide stage who graduated from HBCUs. That features former Secretary of Homeland Safety Jeh Johnson, former Surgeon Basic David Satcher and former Supreme Court docket Justice Thurgood Marshall.
However as the primary HBCU alum to steer the ticket of a serious political get together, “she’s breaking by the glass ceiling,” mentioned Terrell Strayhorn, director of analysis at Virginia Union College’s Heart for the Research of HBCUs.
HBCU leaders and specialists say her nomination is putting a highlight on the position HBCUs play in getting ready future leaders, elevating consciousness of those establishments amongst potential college students, donors and employers.
“The presidency of the US is the most important bully pulpit on the planet. It has the brightest gentle,” mentioned Lodriguez Murray, senior vice chairman of public coverage and authorities affairs at UNCF. “If this HBCU graduate is ready to ascend to that workplace, it bodes to shine a vivid spot on not simply Howard College, however all the 100 or so accredited traditionally Black schools on this nation.”
An enduring legacy
Some proof factors to Harris’ nomination already bringing elevated consciousness, visibility and curiosity in HBCUs, Strayhorn mentioned. The Heart for the Research of HBCUs seen a spike in HBCU-related hashtags, posts and feedback on social media through the week following her candidacy announcement, he mentioned.
“Donors could really feel an elevated sense of delight and duty, doubtlessly resulting in enhanced philanthropic efforts.”
Carla Brailey
Sociology professor at Texas Southern College
Harris’ nomination “sends a robust message to potential college students,” mentioned Harry Williams, president and CEO of Thurgood Marshall Faculty Fund. It underscores that HBCU college students can “obtain their goals and create impression inside their communities,” he added.
The nomination additionally helps put to relaxation the long-asked query: Are HBCUs nonetheless wanted?
“All all through my lifetime, we instructed college students, younger folks, you could be something you need to be, even the president of the US,” Murray mentioned. “The truth that the vice chairman is educated and educated nicely by traditionally Black universities, not one of many Ivy establishments — I feel that it’s actually bringing that promise to life.”
Neither Harris nor her working mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, attended an Ivy League establishment for his or her undergraduate or graduate schooling.
In distinction, former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, first attended Fordham College earlier than transferring to the College of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League establishment, for enterprise faculty. His working mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, attended Ohio State College earlier than enrolling in Yale College, additionally an Ivy League establishment, for regulation faculty.
HBCU advocates and specialists are optimistic that Harris’ nomination will present that traditionally Black schools measure as much as different establishments by way of pupil success. That would assist transfer that needle by way of getting philanthropic donors to consider in these establishments, Murray mentioned.
That will proceed philanthropic momentum for HBCUs that began following the homicide of George Floyd, a Black man whose loss of life in 2020 by the hands of a White police officer sparked nationwide unrest.
Brailey anticipates Harris’ nomination will generate renewed enthusiasm amongst Texas Southern’s donors — notably its alumni and supporters, she mentioned.
“Donors could really feel an elevated sense of delight and duty, doubtlessly resulting in enhanced philanthropic efforts,” Brailey mentioned.
Williams additionally believes Harris’ nomination may assist HBCU graduates compete within the workforce after graduating. He argued that she’s serving to to dispel biases and misconceptions about HBCU alums by demonstrating their readiness to excel in skilled environments — boosting the perceived worth of an HBCU schooling amongst employers.
Employers may see Harris’ nomination and resolve to think about HBCU college students and graduates when filling positions as a result of they understand there’s “no daylight” between these schools and predominantly White establishments, Murray mentioned.
Brailey agreed.
“Employers could develop into extra conscious of the varied expertise pool and strong academic basis that HBCUs supply,” Brailey mentioned.
Funding and coverage potential
In line with specialists, the prospect of getting an HBCU alum within the White Home may place a larger precedence on passing new funding and insurance policies that might profit these establishments, which have been traditionally underfunded.
The Biden administration — by which Harris serves as vice chairman — says it has given “historic” and “document” ranges of federal funding and investments for HBCUs, in response to a Could press launch.
Lawmakers supplied almost $4 billion in funding to HBCUs by COVID-19 aid and the American Rescue Plan.
Between fiscal 2021 and monetary 2023, the Schooling Division additionally gave $2.6 billion to assist construct institutional capability at HBCUs. And the Biden administration has given almost $950 million to those establishments to develop their analysis capability.
The Biden administration additionally awarded over $1.6 billion in capital finance debt aid to HBCUs — cash appropriated as a part of the second COVID aid package deal signed by former President Donald Trump in December 2020.
By his personal proper, Trump additionally used his first time period to discuss the necessity to assist HBCUs in a approach no different president had earlier than, mentioned Murray — a precedent the Biden administration replicated, making further funding for these establishments a budgetary precedence.
The Trump administration additionally allotted $85 million to HBCUs in fiscal 2020 and 2021 by the FUTURE Act, and $1 billion in emergency help to HBCUs and minority-serving establishments by the CARES Act.
Williams mentioned he’s labored carefully with the Biden administration on various key points dealing with HBCUs, comparable to the necessity for extra funding and higher pupil help packages. However HBCU advocates would nonetheless have to make the case that HBCUs are well worth the funding to Congress and, doubtlessly, a Harris administration, Williams mentioned.
Such investments embrace higher integrating HBCUs into the federal analysis and growth ecosystems. That aim would require the federal authorities to speculate considerably within the analysis infrastructure of these establishments, Williams mentioned.
UNCF would really like candidates to prioritize extra money for HBCU infrastructure or doubling Pell Grants so its college students keep away from going into debt, Murray mentioned.
President Joe Biden has pitched doubling the Pell Grant, although his newest finances proposal would maintain off on doing so till 2029.
Murray mentioned he’s not able to say {that a} doable Harris White Home would essentially push for extra funding and higher insurance policies for HBCUs. Harris has been within the race for simply a short while, however to this point, Murray mentioned, she’s run much less of an issues-focused marketing campaign and extra of 1 that’s targeted on the candidates’ character.
And, Harris’ capability to move such insurance policies would largely depend upon broader political points, such because the administration’s competing priorities and whether or not she may acquire sufficient assist in Congress, Strayhorn mentioned.
However having a president with lived HBCU expertise may doubtlessly increase the probabilities that extra federal funding and insurance policies supporting these establishments may arrive, Strayhorn mentioned.
