President Barack Obama declared Aug. 30 to Sept. 5 as National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week.
“Established by men and women of great vision, leadership and clarity of purpose, Historically Black Colleges and Universities have provided generations of Americans with opportunity, a solid education and hope,” read Obama’s proclamation.
“Pivotal in the Civil Rights Movement, HBCUs offer us a window into our nation’s past as well as a path forward. Today in 20 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands, these colleges and universities are serving hundreds of thousands of students from every background and have contributed to the expansion of the African-American middle class, to the growth of local communities and to our nation’s overall economy.
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