IDKMYDE: 1st and Last HBCUs

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Breakfast Club – Episode IDKMYDE: 1st and Last HBCUs

Release Date: February 27, 2025
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts
Title: IDKMYDE: 1st and Last HBCUs
Description: In this episode, The Breakfast Club delves into the history and significance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), exploring their origins, evolution, and enduring impact on African American education and leadership.

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Introduction to HBCUs

The episode begins with an introduction to the foundational elements of HBCUs, highlighting their pivotal role in providing higher education opportunities to African Americans during a time when access to predominantly white institutions (PWIs) was severely restricted.

Notable Quote:

"When you rightly point out, 'Cheyney was founded by a Quaker, a white man, Richard Humphreys, because he had the bread to do so,' it underscores the complex beginnings of HBCUs and their reliance on philanthropic support from allies."
— Unknown Speaker, [02:45]

Cheyney University: The Pioneer

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is identified as the first HBCU, established in 1837. The host emphasizes its significance as the earliest institution dedicated to providing higher education specifically for African Americans, predating many other universities.

Key Points:

• Founded in 1837 as the Institute for Colored Youth.
• Served as a vocational and teacher training institute.
• Established almost 50 years after the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, highlighting its role in filling the educational void for African Americans.

Notable Quote:

"Cheyney was founded by a Quaker, a white man, Richard Humphreys, because he had the bread to do so, which is why Wilberforce is very significant."
— Unknown Speaker, [03:15]

Wilberforce University: A Landmark in Black Leadership

Wilberforce University, founded in 1856 in Wilberforce, Ohio, is discussed as the first HBCU owned and operated by African Americans, emphasizing its role in fostering black leadership and liberal arts education.

Key Points:

• Established 19 years after Cheyney University.
• Named after William Wilberforce, a British abolitionist, reflecting its foundational anti-slavery ethos.
• Controlled by the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church.
• Produced notable alumni including Bernard Lafayette, Congressman John Lewis, C.T. Vivian, and James Bevel, key figures in the Civil Rights Movement.

Notable Quote:

"What makes Wilberforce special is it was the first HBCU controlled by black folks with an emphasis on liberal arts education."
— Unknown Speaker, [04:10]

American Baptist College: The Last HBCU Built

The discussion transitions to American Baptist College (ABC), recognized as the last HBCU established, highlighting its unique origins and contributions to religious and community leadership.

Key Points:

• Founded in 1924 as American Baptist Theological Seminary.
• Gained recognition as an HBCU by the U.S. Department of Education in 2013.
• Constructed through a collaboration between the All Black National Baptist Convention USA and the All White Southern Baptist Convention.
• Aimed to educate rural black clergy to lead their communities.
• Known as Holy Hill, ABC played a significant role during the Civil Rights Movement.

Notable Quote:

"ABC was founded by an unprecedented collaboration between the All Black National Baptist Convention USA and the All White Southern Baptist Convention. The goal was to educate rural black clergy for leadership in their communities."
— Unknown Speaker, [05:00]

University of the Virgin Islands: Dual Role as HBCU and Land-Grant University

The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), established in 1962, is highlighted for its dual designation as both a land-grant university and an HBCU, addressing the unique challenges HBCUs face in terms of funding compared to land-grant PWIs.

Key Points:

• Founded in 1962, serving a population of approximately 2,400 in Wilberforce, Ohio.
• Functions as both a land-grant university and an HBCU.
• Faces significant underfunding compared to predominantly white land-grant universities (LGUs).
• Represents the ongoing struggles and resilience of HBCUs in maintaining educational standards and accessibility.

Notable Quote:

"HBCUs are extremely underfunded compared to PWI LGUs. But that's a whole another conversation for a whole nother episode."
— Unknown Speaker, [05:50]

Conclusion and Reflection on HBCU Legacy

The episode wraps up by reflecting on the enduring legacy of HBCUs, acknowledging their critical role in shaping African American leaders and sustaining communities through education. The host invites listeners to continue exploring the rich history and ongoing contributions of HBCUs.

Notable Quote:

"This was just a little something that I didn't know. Maybe you didn't either about Cheyney, Wilberforce, ABC and UVI."
— Unknown Speaker, [06:20]

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Key Takeaways

• Historical Foundations: HBCUs like Cheyney and Wilberforce were established to provide much-needed educational opportunities for African Americans, laying the groundwork for future institutions.

• Leadership and Impact: Alumni from HBCUs have been instrumental in shaping the Civil Rights Movement and continuing to lead in various sectors.

• Challenges Faced: Despite their importance, HBCUs often contend with underfunding and resource disparities compared to their predominantly white counterparts.

• Ongoing Significance: HBCUs remain vital in fostering community leadership, cultural heritage, and academic excellence within African American communities.

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Listen to the full episode on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts to deepen your understanding of the pivotal role HBCUs play in education and society.

Transcript

[Maria Fernanda Diaz]

Hey y'all. I'm Maria Fernanda Diaz. When youn're Invisible is my love letter to the working class people and immigrants who shaped me. Season 2 shares stories about community and being underestimated.

[Gabe Leonors]

All the greatest changes have happened when a couple of people said, this sucks, let's do something about it.

[Maria Fernanda Diaz]

We get paid to serve you, but we're made out of the same things.

[Unknown]

It's rare to have black male teachers.

[Questlove]

Sometimes I am the testament.

[Maria Fernanda Diaz]

Listen to when youn're Invisible on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Gabe Leonors]

What would you do if mysterious drones appeared over your hometown? I started asking questions. What do you remember happening on that night of December 16th? It actually rotated around our house, looking as if it was peering in each window of our home. I'm Gabe Lehners from Imagine I Heart Podcasts and Lehners Entertainment. Listen to Obscurum, Invasion of the Drones wherever you get your favorite podcast Ass.

[Alec Baldwin]

Hey, it's Alec Baldwin. This past season on my podcast, here's the thing, I spoke with more actors, musicians, policymakers, and so many other fascinating people like writer and actor Dan Aykroyd.

[Unknown]

I love writing more than anything. You're left alone, you know, you do three hours in the morning, you write three hours in the afternoon. Go pick up a kid from school and write at night. And after nine hours you come out with seven pages and then you're moving on.

[Alec Baldwin]

And actor and comedian Jack McBrayer.

[Unknown]

The most important aspect is the collaboration with people that I like, I trust are talented. That has been the most amazing gift to me about this crazy business that we've chosen. Meeting these people who have such diverse talents and you're able to create something together.

[Alec Baldwin]

Listen to here's the thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Questlove]

Hey everybody, what's up? This is questlove, and every year we do special programming in February for Black History Month. Now, especially important this year as we gear up for some new conversations. So the team and I compiled some clips from the show that are worth revisiting. In part one of the celebration of Black History Month, we're listening back to Moments with Chris Rock, Solange Prodigy, Ben Vereen, Jennifer Lewis, Angela Rye and Gina Yashore. Listen to Questlove supreme on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Unknown]

On today's episode of I didn't know. Maybe you didn't either. I have a question. What was the first hbcu. I didn't know maybe you didn't need I didn't know I didn't know maybe you didn't need I didn't know I didn't know maybe you didn't need I didn't know I didn't know I didn't know I didn't know if you said Cheyney University in 1837, of course you're correct. It was the Instit Institute for Colored Youth, the absolute first institution in the United States to provide higher education specifically for African Americans. For perspective, the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill was founded in 1789, almost 50 years. And although they didn't start enrolling students until 1795, 42 years is a mighty large head start. See, Cheney was founded by a Quaker, a white man, Richard Humphreys, because he had the bread to do so, which is why Wilberforce is very significant. Now, although it was founded 19 years after Cheney in 1856. Here's something that I didn't know. Maybe you didn't either. Wilberforce University is in Wilberforce, Ohio, a town of about 2,400 folk. The area code there is 45384, and it was named after a white Englishman named William Wilberforce, who was a notable leader of the movement to abolish slavery over there in Britain. However, even though Wilberforce was named after a white man, what makes Wilberforce special is it was the first HBCU owned and operated by black folks. The African Methodist Episcopal Church. AME, to be exact. So Cheney was founded earlier and began as a vocational and teacher training institute, whereas Wilberforce was the first HBCU controlled by black folks with an emphasis on liberal arts education. Both were very pivotal to the history of HBCUs. Now, when you ask, what's the last HBCU built? If you said American Baptist College, you'd be correct. Here's something else that I didn't know. Maybe you didn't either. It was founded in 1924 as American Baptist Theological Seminary, and it wasn't recognized as an HBCU by the U.S. department of Education until 2013. ABC is known as Holy Hill and was founded by an unprecedented collaboration between the All Black National Baptist Convention USA and the All White Southern Baptist Convention. The goal was to educate rural black clergy for leadership in their communities. See, ABC was popping in the 60s during the Civil Rights movement. Stop. See, look. Black boys wasn't growing up trying to go to Yale or Stanford. Oh, no, Lil. Black boys wanted to go to abc. And learn how to preach. They wanted to be like Dr. King. Shabaru. And ABC got some very notable alum too, Bernard Lafayette, who was dang near the founder of the Civil Rights movement, Congressman John Lewis, activist C T Vivian, and civil rights leader James Bevel. But when I asked you what was the last HBCU built, you might have said uvr. And that would have been correct too because it was founded in 1962, the University of the Virgin Islands. I see it serves a dual role of a land grant university and an HBCU over in the Virgin Islands. Now, whereas all LGUs land grant universities and HBCUs are both types of land grant universities, HBCUs are extremely underfunded compared to PWI LGUs. But that's a whole another conversation for a whole nother episode. This was just a little something that I didn't know. Maybe you didn't either about Cheney, Wilberforce, ABC and uvr. Listen up man. If you love this series, you can now listen to us every single week starting in March for all types of things that I didn't know. Maybe you didn't either. Make sure you following the show on the iHeart app so that you can hear more. Okay, bye.

[Maria Fernanda Diaz]

Hey y'all. I'm Maria Fernanda Diaz. When youn're Invisible is my love letter to the working class people and immigrants who shaped me. Season 2 shares stories about community and being underage.

[Gabe Leonors]

All the greatest changes have happened when a couple of people said, this sucks, let's do something about it.

[Maria Fernanda Diaz]

We get paid to serve you, but we're made out of the same things.

[Unknown]

It's rare to have black male teachers.

[Questlove]

Sometimes I am the Testament.

[Maria Fernanda Diaz]

Listen to when you're Invisible on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Gabe Leonors]

What would you do if mysterious drones appeared over your hometown? I started asking questions. What do you remember happening on that night of December 16th? It actually rotated around our looking as if it was peering in each window of our home. I'm Gabe Leonors from Imagine I Heart Podcasts and Leonard's Entertainment. Listen to Obscura, Invasion of the Drones, wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

[Alec Baldwin]

Hey, it's Alec Baldwin. This past season on my podcast, here's the thing. I spoke with more actors, musicians, policymakers and so many other fascinating people like writer and actor Dan Aykroyd.

[Unknown]

I love writing more than anything. You're left alone, you know. You do three hours in the morning, you write three hours in the afternoon. Go pick up a kid from school and write at night and after nine hours you come out with seven pages and then you're moving on.

[Alec Baldwin]

And actor and comedian Jack McBrayer.

[Unknown]

The most important aspect is the collaboration with people that I like, I trust are talented. That has been the most amazing gift to me about this crazy business that we've chosen. Meeting these people who have such diverse talents and you're able to create something together.

[Alec Baldwin]

Listen to here's the thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Questlove]

Hey everybody, what's up? This is Questlove, and every year we do special programming in February for Black History Month. Now it's especially important this year as we gear up for some new conversations. So the team and I compiled some clips from the show that are worth revisiting. In part one of the celebration of Black History Month, we're listening back to Moments with Chris Rock, Solange Prodigy, Vivarine, Jennifer Lewis, Angela Rye and Gina Yashore. Listen to Questlove supreme on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.