President Obama Declares National HBCU Week

President Obama has declared this week (Sept. 1-7) National Historically Black College and University (HBCU) week across the nation. The President praised all college Presidents, students, faculty and staff of all HBCU's for the outstanding work that they do to make sure that African Americans receive and reap the benefits of a higher education. "This week, we celebrate the accomplishments of HBCU's and look to the future with conviction and optimism" the President said. He continued "These institutions will play a key role in reaching our ambitious national education goals, including having the highest proportion of graduates in the world by 2020. As our Nation strives towards this goal, we invite HBCU's to employ new, innovative and ambitious strategies to help this next generation of Americans successfully complete college and prepare themselves for the global economy. During National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week, we recommit ourselves to never resting until equality is real, opportunity is universal, and all citizens can realize their dreams."

The President noted that late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and poet Langston Hughes were graduates of HBCU's before going on to help shape the fabric of the Nation stating, "For generations, education has opened doors to untold opportunities and bright futures...through quality instruction and a personal commitment to hard work, young people in every part of our nation have gone on to achieve success. Established by men and women of great vision, leadership, and clarity of purpose, historically black colleges and universities have provided generations of Americans with opportunity, a solid education and hope."   "HBCU's have released the power of knowledge to countless Americans...and offer us a window into our nation's past as well as a path forward."

Historically Black Colleges and Universities were established 140 years ago and are located in 20 states, the District Of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands.