In a recent Orlando Sentinel op-ed, FAMU alumnus Larry O. Rivers weighed in on the HBCU merger debate. He believes the merger proposals are more about election politics than budget constraints:Every major civil-rights victory elicits a backlash; and, few are as overtly discriminatory as reactionary state laws and practices designed to put black voters "back in their place." The South's history is full of examples. Poll taxes, literacy tests, grandfather clauses and whites-only primaries followed the 15th Amendment. Gerrymandering diluted the influence of heavily black population areas after the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Faulty felon purge lists disenfranchised thousands of eligible black voters in 2000, obstructing a wave of increased black election turnout partially sparked by court rulings that had led to new majority black congressional districts in 1992.
And now, following the inauguration of America's first African-American president, a backlash is brewing against a critical stronghold of his black Southern support base: historically black colleges and universities.
HBCUs occupied a prominent place in President Barack Obama's election strategy.
Back when many wealthy political donors considered his candidacy a long shot, he raised sizable contributions from his appearances at HBCUs such as Howard, Florida A&M, Hampton and Xavier.
Obama also led rallies at North Carolina Central, South Carolina State and Mississippi's Jackson State ahead of his Democratic primary wins in those states.
In the general election, three Southern states with vigorous HBCU "get-out-the-vote" initiatives — Virginia, North Carolina and Florida — went from red to blue.
Even in the southern states that Obama lost to GOP nominee John McCain, the rise in black turnout — widely mobilized from HBCU campuses — presented a serious problem for many Republicans locked in tight legislative and congressional elections.
Recently, two powerful GOP officeholders in Georgia and Mississippi (states Obama picked up in the primary) introduced proposals to weaken their states' public HBCUs. Georgia state Sen. Seth Harp wanted to merge two HBCUs, Albany State and Savannah State, with nearby predominantly white schools. Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, the politically ambitious chairman of the Republican Governors Association, asked his state's lawmakers to strip Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State of their autonomy and make them extension campuses of Jackson State.
The timing of these propositions was no coincidence. Another huge black voter turnout for Obama in 2012, coupled with the reapportionment processes driven by the 2010 Census, could trigger shake-ups in numerous Southern legislatures and congressional districts.
Continue reading "Obama backlash fuels HBCU merger proposals" here at the Orlando Sentinel.
Interesting prospective...
ReplyDeleteinteresting indeed. It sounds like a bit of a reach. YT has been trying to merge these schools in some form or fashion the day after integration, or shut them down all together before integration.
ReplyDeleteSounds like these recent merger proposals are just another example, and with high levels of black legislatures in these states (many of them alums), it won't really happen.
I think the Tea Parties are more in tune with the backlash. Sadly, it's actually working.
I agree 8:37
ReplyDeleteActually 8:37am it is not a reach at all....As soon as President Obama won true racist white Americans and clueless Black Americans took to the air waves to annouce that we were in a "post-racial" America. I dont even know what the hell that is, but I'll digress. If that argument is to be supported then there would be no need for an HBCU and to start lets "merge" them and then in a few years we can "shrink" them and then in a few more years we can "close" them and this will be done under the guise of progress. Look at what they did to all the Black schools that existed before "intergration", they intergrated them right out of busniess. We are the only people who do not learn from history it seems.
ReplyDelete2/16/2010 10:14 AM: We are the only people who do not learn from history it seems.
ReplyDeleteAmen, preach brother preach!
10:14 AM,
ReplyDeleteSchool Boards were able to integrate those predominate black schools into nonexistence because many of us fled those communities once the gates were open. There wouldn't be a merger debate if more students/familes thought enough of these schools to attend (and they have every right to choose other schools BTW) and alumni enough to support financially. If those schools in question receive the same amount of support from their alumni as FAMU receives from its, there's no wonder some of them are in the situation they are in. On most of these issues, we are too reactive, instead of being more proactive.
When someone makes a proposal to merge or close, we cry racism and inequality. When the alumni association asks for more donations / support, we complain that the school will not use the money correctly, hence our reason(s) for not giving. Oh well, I digress also.
There's always been an anti-HBCU "close em down" crowd, but that group got more momentum after Election 2008. They're scared of the national voter mobilization power HBCUs showed when they supported Obama. They don't want FAMU and others to continue organizing voter registration drives, early voting marches, and candidate rallies on campus.
ReplyDelete11:35, you are a super example of what is going on.
ReplyDeleteNo good, incompetent, white failures are always looking for someone or something to blame for their own shortcomings. Black people must stand toe to toe with these devils and knock the hell out of them instead of turning the other cheek.
ReplyDeleteNever again!
6:37 PM,
ReplyDeletePlease elaborate!
Hmmm... I wonder how many of these posters are replying to this thread from the communities of Bond, Goodbread, Liberty City/Overtown, Eatonville, Washington Shores, Goulds, etc....
ReplyDelete