Before 1964, the United States was racially divided in a very strict way. Even places of higher education tended to supply resources to students of a certain race over others. Hence the creation of the HBCU, or the Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This is a term that describes those universities that were, and in most cases still are, primarily there to serve the black American community.
Time Frame
There were a few HBCUs opened prior to the Civil War, however most were created afterward. Not all continue to operate, though there are still plenty that offer classes.
Types
There are a few different types of HBCUs. These include 2 and 4-year universities, colleges and community colleges.
Definition
As previously mentioned, the role of an HBCU was to serve the higher educational desires of blacks in America. This is the definition given to them by The Higher Education Act of 1965.
Amount
Today there are 105 operating HBCUs in America, including all types of institutions. Most of these were built in the very early 1900s, though some came around in the middle of the century.
Considerations
While there are a number of colleges that have formed after 1964 to cater toward the black community, they are not considered HBCUs.
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