I did not attend a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) after high school. Growing up in Gary, Indiana, a predominately black city in the 70’s and 80’s, I had black principals, administrators, and counselors but there was never a voice that spoke to the HBCU experience. There was no one pushing me to consider attending an HBCU after high school. I was focused on what many of us were told was “the best fit”, the strongest athletic programs, and the most resources and opportunities. What I didn’t fully understand then — and what I’ve come to appreciate deeply as a Black educator and principal — is that HBCUs have always represented the very definition of access, opportunity, and excellence. They are not a backup option or a niche experience; they are one of the most powerful and transformative environments a young Black student can ever step into.
I recently visited Central State University, one of the closest HBCUs to Indianapolis for their College Day experience. We took a small group of students who are interested in learning more about HBCUs. The event was attended by high school students from all over the midwest. I saw pride, relaxation, and comfort on the faces of these high school students throughout the day. It was a sense of belonging as the student ambassadors personally greeted and spoke with them. When I look at the trajectory of so many young Black students, I now believe wholeheartedly that every single one of them should visit and apply to at least one HBCU. Not necessarily because they must attend, but because the visit itself, the experience of walking on a campus built for them, by people who looked like them is life-changing.
The family environment that feels like home
One of the most common phrases you hear from HBCU graduates is, “It felt like family.” That phrase might sound cliché until you actually visit a campus and see it in action. There’s something powerful about being greeted by professors who know your name after one introduction, about seeing classmates who encourage you to succeed instead of compete, and about walking into offices where administrators genuinely care about your story, not just your GPA.
As a principal, I’ve witnessed countless students of color struggle to find belonging at predominantly white institutions from elementary to college. Many are the only Black students in their class, their dorm, or their major. They often carry the burden of representing their entire race in every discussion, every mistake, and every success. That kind of pressure can chip away at your confidence before you even realize it. At an HBCU, that weight is lifted. Students are not “the only one.” They are surrounded by peers who share similar experiences, similar roots, and similar dreams. That sense of community builds a foundation that allows them to thrive academically, emotionally, and socially.
A living connection to Black history
Every HBCU is a living museum of Black history — not a history confined to a textbook, but one you can feel and touch. When you walk across the campus of Howard University, Hampton, Spelman, Morehouse, FAMU, Tuskegee, or North Carolina A&T, you’re stepping on sacred ground. These are institutions that were built at a time when Black people were legally forbidden to learn, vote, or dream. They were created by visionaries who believed education was not just liberation — it was a weapon against oppression.
As a Black principal, I often remind my students that they are part of a story much bigger than themselves. HBCUs embody that truth. They connect our young people to the legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois, Mary McLeod Bethune, Thurgood Marshall, Toni Morrison, and so many others who used their education to challenge the world’s expectations. For students who often see their history reduced to a single month or a handful of famous figures, HBCUs offer a full-length mirror — one that reflects the depth, brilliance, and beauty of Black achievement.
The unapologetic celebration of Black identity
There’s a kind of pride that only comes from being surrounded by excellence that looks like you. HBCUs are filled with students who wear their Blackness as a badge of honor. They dance to the drumline, they chant at the pep rallies, and they celebrate achievements without apology. For students who have spent years in spaces that questioned their confidence, tone, or style, the HBCU experience is healing. It says, “You are enough. You belong. You were built for this.”
I’ve seen many of my former students attend HBCUs and come back with a new glow — a confidence that can’t be taught in any textbook. They walk taller, speak with purpose, and know exactly who they are. That kind of transformation happens when a student finally experiences an environment where excellence and Blackness are not in conflict — they are synonymous.
HBCUs teach students that success doesn’t require assimilation. You can embrace your cultural identity and still be a scholar, scientist, entrepreneur, artist or athlete. You don’t have to shrink your voice to fit in. Instead, you’re encouraged to turn up the volume — to lead with pride, purpose and power. That’s the kind of self-assurance that changes lives, careers, and communities.
Representation matters more than we admit
Many Black students have never had a Black teacher, counselor or administrator. They’ve spent years in systems where leadership rarely looks like them. That lack of representation subtly sends a message: leadership doesn’t belong to you.
HBCUs dismantle that message completely. Every classroom, every department and every student organization is filled with examples of Black excellence in motion.
When students see deans, presidents, and professors who share their skin color and understand their lived experiences, it changes what they believe is possible. It’s not about exclusion — it’s about empowerment. It’s about knowing that your voice matters in every space, from the boardroom to the classroom to the stage. That representation inspires confidence, fosters ambition and fuels purpose.
The power of visiting: Why every Black student should see it for themselves
I tell my students all the time: You can’t become what you’ve never seen. That’s why visiting an HBCU is so important. Even if a student ultimately decides to attend a different type of school, the exposure to that environment leaves a permanent imprint. The energy on those campuses is contagious. It’s joy, history and ambition all rolled into one.
During a visit, students witness firsthand what it means to learn in a space designed for their success. They see peers who are scholars, athletes, artists and leaders – not exceptions, but expectations. They feel the rhythm of campus life, from the band rehearsing on the quad to the conversations happening in the student union about culture, politics, and innovation. They realize that Black excellence is not rare; it’s everywhere.
As a principal who did not attend an HBCU, I often imagine how different my own college experience might have been had I spent time in one of those spaces. I succeeded academically, but I didn’t always feel seen or celebrated.
I didn’t fully understand the power of belonging until much later in life. That’s why I encourage every Black student I meet to visit at least one HBCU to experience that sense of belonging early and to feel the pride that comes from knowing who they are.
What I tell my students now
When I speak to students about college, I no longer just talk about financial aid, majors, or test scores. I talk about identity, belonging, and legacy. I tell them that choosing a college is not just about where you’ll earn a degree — it’s about where you’ll discover yourself.
I tell them that if they visit an HBCU, they’ll see a mirror instead of a microscope. They’ll see people who look like them, pushing boundaries in every field imaginable. They’ll see professors who care about their growth as a whole person, not just as a number on a roster. They’ll see that education is not just about what you learn, it’s about who you become.
If I could go back in time, I would still be proud of my college journey, but I would make sure to visit an HBCU along the way. I would want to feel that energy, that pride, that sense of family that only those campuses can offer. Because once you’ve felt it, you understand what it truly means to be educated for us, by us and through us.
So, to every Black student, parent and educator reading this: make the trip. Take the tour. Walk the yard. Sit in on a class. Visit the bookstore. Feel the legacy in the air.
And when you do, apply, not because you have to, but because you deserve to know what it feels like to be part of something that powerful.
HBCUs are not just schools. They are sacred spaces of transformation. They are proof that Black excellence is not a dream — it’s a reality that’s been thriving for over a century. Every Black student should experience that reality firsthand.
 after high school.){kind=link}