Safeguard future of HBCUs, allow consideration of race

The U.S. Department of Education's directive to ban the consideration of race in educational institutions threatens the existence and mission of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). HBCUs were founded with the express purpose of providing higher education opportunities for Black Americans who faced systemic exclusion and discrimination from traditionally white institutions. Prohibiting these colleges from considering race would undermine their very reason for being and the pivotal role they continue to play in advancing educational equity. We urge the Department to exempt HBCUs from this misguided policy. These venerable institutions have produced generations of Black leaders, scholars, and professionals who have made invaluable contributions to our society. Stripping them of their ability to prioritize Black students would deal a devastating blow to their legacy and America's diversity. Policies designed to promote equal opportunity should not come at the expense of institutions specifically created to overcome entrenched racial barriers. We call on the Department to safeguard the future of HBCUs by allowing them to continue their vital mission of cultivating Black excellence in higher education.