Talks at GS – The Story of Historically Black Colleges and Universities & Race Relations in America

Origins and Motivation for the Film

• Director Stanley Nelson created the documentary to document a narrative he felt was "never told" and had no other candidates willing to tell.
• The filmmaker's personal motivation stems from his parents' attendance at HBCUs (Talladega and Howard), which catalyzed generational socioeconomic mobility.
• The film establishes that during enslavement, teaching African Americans to read or write was illegal by law, despite the legal right of enslavers to inflict violence on enslaved people.

Founding and Evolution of HBCUs

• Howard University was chartered by President Andrew Johnson on March 2, 1867, despite Johnson simultaneously vetoing the first Reconstruction Acts.
• Approximately 25 years post-Civil War (circa 1865–1890), HBCUs saw a rapid proliferation driven by the African American belief that education was the primary vehicle for societal change.
• In the 1920s, Howard's Board of Trustees appointed an African American president for the first time, a decision that spurred a national shift toward Black leadership of these institutions.
• Prior to this shift, 10 white men served as presidents of Howard compared to only 7 Black men (including the current speaker as the 17th president and 7th Black president).
• By 1956 (34 years after the 1920s shift), all HBCUs were accredited and led by Black deans.
• Howard University continues to produce more Black physicians and dentists than any other institution.
• Historically, HBCUs were pioneers in co-education and female leadership, including appointing the first female chemistry chair in the U.S. and the first female Black lawyer to pass the DC bar.

Current Statistical Context and Demographics

• There are currently 101 HBCUs in the United States: 12 are community/junior colleges, and 89 are four-year institutions.
• The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMC Fund) represents 47 public HBCUs, accounting for approximately 80% of all HBCU student enrollment.
• The TMC Fund celebrated its 30th anniversary during the conversation.
• More than 50% of HBCUs are located in Republican states, primarily in the South (e.g., Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana).
• Applications by Black men to medical schools last year were lower than they were in 1976, representing a 40-year decline in interest.

Political Dynamics and Federal Funding

• Howard University's federal appropriation increased more rapidly under Republican presidents than under Democratic presidents.
• President Obama's first budget recommended a 10% cut to Howard's federal appropriation.
• House Speaker Ryan restored the 10% cut for Howard in the final bill markup.
• Dr. Nelson argues that despite political differences, HBCU leaders must remain "at the table" to advocate for funding, citing the necessity of General Howard engaging with President Johnson to secure the charter.
• The speaker rejects the notion that HBCU leaders lose their "blackness" or credibility by engaging with political figures outside their ideological spectrum to secure resources.

Role of HBCUs in Identity and Opportunity

• The speaker characterizes non-HBCU opportunities for Black students as "sheltered," implying hidden barriers, whereas HBCUs provide "unbridled opportunity."
• At Howard, the speaker (a 16-year-old with sickle cell anemia) was never questioned regarding his capacity to become a surgeon or internist, contrasting with the "shackles" often present elsewhere.
• The speaker cites President Obama's Howard commencement address as a pivotal moment emphasizing the need for individuals to "own their own blackness" without delegitimization based on mixed heritage or political engagement.
• HBCUs are encouraged to teach that diversity is a "two-way street," requiring students to actively understand the world beyond their immediate cultural environment.
• The speaker asserts that activism must be purposeful and directed at clear "enemies" rather than romanticized or misdirected at internal community disagreements.