The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday struck down affirmative action, a practice that’s opened up higher-education opportunities for Black students for nearly half a century. The decision, which severely limits colleges and universities’ ability to consider race as a factor in admissions, has unsettled civil rights advocates, who now fear for the future of campus […]
Education
Posted inEducation, Higher Education
Texas’ College DEI Ban Is the Latest to ‘Turn Back the Clock on Racial Equality’
Texas’ ultimatum that its public colleges and universities either ban diversity, equity, and inclusion — or DEI — efforts or lose state funding has Black educators such as Dwonna Goldstone, the director of the African American studies program at Texas State University, on edge. Though the law goes into effect six months from now, she […]
Posted inEducation, K-12, Partner Content
We need to rethink discipline in schools
This story was produced in partnership with Vox as part of the discrimination issue of The Highlight. For many Black children, their first encounter with the discrimination that will trail them their whole lives comes from the school system — a system where they are five times more likely to attend a segregated school than their white counterparts. […]
Posted inEducation, Higher Education
What an Affirmative Action Ban Could Mean for College Diversity
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to wipe out affirmative action in higher education any day now. If the erasure of a decades-old precedent occurs, the crucial question will be: How to bolster diversity on college campuses without the help of race-conscious policies? Universities will have to be creative, experts say, and consider approaches that […]
Posted inEducation, HBCUs, Partner Content
HBCU graduates share lessons learned — from prioritizing happiness to embracing their natural hair
College is a challenging and formative time. Students must navigate heavy coursework, as well as demands outside the classroom — from leadership roles at student organizations to new relationships, and life away from home. For students at historically Black colleges and universities, the experience is particularly poignant, as they are surrounded by many peers and […]
Posted inEducation, HBCUs, Partner Content
Howard Will Lead 9 HBCUs in a Pentagon-funded Research Project. Students are Pushing Back.
The U.S. military is eager to tap into the talent network of the country’s historically Black colleges, which graduate nearly a quarter of all Black STEM professionals. Some students aren’t as excited about the relationship. Howard University is the first HBCU in the country to lead such a project, partnering with the U.S. Air Force […]
Posted inEducation, Higher Education
The U.S. Supreme Court Seems Ready to Gut Affirmative Action
This summer, the U.S. Supreme Court’s Republican-appointed majority is anticipated to end affirmative action, which for decades has sought to remedy a bruising legacy of discrimination against marginalized groups, including Black Americans. Nearly 10 years ago, Students for Fair Admissions, an organization headed by Edward Blum, a stockbroker turned conservative legal strategist, filed lawsuits against […]
Posted inEducation, Partner Content, Student Loans
Parent PLUS Loans Can Debilitate Black Families. Here’s What to Know.
For Black parents looking to help their children pay for an education at a historically Black college or university, Parent PLUS loans have become a common choice. Congress created the loans as a way for middle- and upper-income parents to help their children pay for college. But over time, they’ve become the answer for many […]
Posted inEducation, K-12
The Surprising Gap in How Democratic- and GOP-led School Districts Talk About Diversity
Classrooms have reemerged as sites of political conflict over discussions about identity — and these tensions are reflected in how public school districts frame their educational values to students, according to an analysis released this week by the Pew Research Center. Pew found that in Democratic-voting areas, 56% of districts note their diversity, equity, and […]
Posted inEducation, HBCUs, Partner Content
HBCUs Feel Like a Return Home for Women Reenrolling After Years Away
Doris Mackins had been retired for more than a decade when she decided to return to Coppin State University to finish her degree in 2022. The 68-year-old said her decision to return to higher education was a spontaneous one — she was excited by the opportunity. This semester, Mackins is completing her last 12 credits […]