After Texas Western College, with an all-Black starting lineup, beat the all-White University of Kentucky team for the men's national basketball championship in 1966, the handwriting on the wall was legible: to succeed in college athletics the benching of Jim Crow was required. #marchmadness

Dr. Jelani Favors examines the late Jesse Jackson's time at North Carolina A&T State University @ncatsuaggies.bsky.social and how the HBCU cultivated in him the importance of character, civic engagement, and service. #BlackSky #EduSky

Six recently fired faculty members from the Agricultural Research Station (ARS) at Virginia State University have launched a petition demanding their reinstatement, claiming they were wrongfully terminated without cause. #BlackSky #EduSky

Henry Stanford argues that "as March Madness consume[s] our attention, institutions must focus beyond the tournament. The true measure of success is thriving Black student athletes excelling on the court, in the classroom and graduating, which leaves a legacy beyond the final buzzer."

JBHE Special Report: Historian Edmond W. Davis notes that “no single donor in American history has ever invested more directly and broadly into Black higher education than MacKenzie Scott.” But some HBCUs that need money the most are not sharing in the bounty.

Dr. Anthoney Kinney details how HBCUs have always done more with less. Now, they must do more for their students, not because of market demands, but in defiance of them.

The authors argue that data provides evidence that years of engagement and investment has produced a robust HBCU research and development enterprise on pace to deliver a fleet of top-tier research institutions. But, current uncertainty about federal funding of R&D could slow this pace dramatically.

Dr. Vernon Lindsay and Dr. Ahmed Naguib reflect on their work and those of other nonprofit organizations in supporting Black students

Dr. Al-Tony Gilmore argues that “neither the U.S. News & World Report or the Forbes rankings have been fair to HBCUs because their definition of what constitutes a quality education rewards reputations and traditions built on wealth and exclusivity.”

We’ve compiled a list of the graduation rates at the nation's 25 largest #HBCUs by total enrollments to see how students at these schools succeed in earning a degree.

Dr. Khirsten Scott examines the crisis at Tougaloo College through the eyes of an alumna and scholar

Dr. André Seewood recounts the challenges scholars of color experience in predominantly white academic settings and the perseverance required to prosper.

JBHE Books of the Week from @ohiostatepress.bsky.social @beaconpress.bsky.social @uvapress.bsky.social & more

Key observations, learnings, and recommendations from Benjamin Abtan based on his career teaching about race and identity to over 1,000 students from over 70 countries.