Imagine walking into a brightly lit basketball court emblazoned with championship banners, with famous Historically Black Colleges & Universities’ representatives and their colorful flyers underneath. CSSJ seniors Donovan, Cheikhou, Joswar, Jacob, Keshae and Louis along with staff members Linaida and Craig walked into such a place not long ago. The trip started at 9 am. After finishing first period class, students rushed to get their phones taken out of the Yondr pouches and went to the library. From the library, they transitioned into the train station by taking the crowded 2 train from 149 grand concourse to Chamber street downtown. During the train ride, students talked about all the interesting things that have happened while at CSSJ: the growing pains of the Yondr pouch, the mentorship program and all the fights that have happened throughout the years in CSSJ. After exiting the train station, students walked to Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), the HBCU fair.
Other students who did not want to participate in the fair sat on the large bleachers, but all CSSJ seniors engaged with new college recruits from numerous HBCU colleges including Howard University, a famed HBCU, an all boy’s college and military recruits with whom Joswar managed to do an impressive fifteen pull ups. After the fair, CSSJ seniors went to Wingstop to buy lunch and made their way back to school by 1, and then 2 trains. They arrived exactly at the start of 8th period class, but students went to the CSSJ store to eat their lunch, decompress and then went to class.
Speaking of, historically, black colleges and universities were created specifically with the goal of empowering and educating young black minds who may not know themselves or their history and are in need of higher education. HBCU´s have existed for a long time, even before the Civil Rights Act demanding institutions of higher education to serve underrepresented black communities, especially in the South. HBCU such as Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, University of the District of Columbia previously known as Miner School for Colored Girls, and Wilberforce University. These institutions had one common goal: to empower, educate, and serve African Americans. But HBCUs weren’t always so easy to create or to access because of segregation and racial discrimination. The very act of creating an institution of higher education for African Americans during these times of segregation was both going against the status quo and a revolution. HBCU´s exist as a reminder that education, specifically higher education, is a right for all human beings indiscriminately.
At the fair, CSSJ seniors met other students and had opportunities to talk to different colleges about their vision for young adults like you and me. The college’s representatives were excited to be there and talk to us about tuition, scholarships, and the amazing schools they represent. The most sought-after schools were Howard University and Morehouse University. Looking back, the fair was a success. Seniors familiarize themselves with new colleges and they were able to see people who look like them succeed in higher education.
