Morgan Hubbard - Organizing a conference or a workshop (9 PTS)

The Knowledge of HBCUs from Black Students in Predominantly White Spaces

During a visit to my alma mater, The Potomac School, on my Thanksgiving break, I found myself asking many of my younger classmates where they were planning to attend college. Numerous students said they applied to Spelman College, Howard University, Hampton University, and other HBCUs; however, they often followed that sentence with common misconceptions about HBCUs. To name a few, they admitted that they were “too white-washed,” or they wouldn’t quite fit in with a “typical *insert HBCU* student.” Their misconstrued ideas of HBCUs formed by confessions on social platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram, began to concern me. How many people were throwing HBCUs out of their list of colleges to consider solely based on the experiences of a few individuals online?

While I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I, too, had the same ideas of Spelman before I toured, I had to visit with an open mind to realize that I would not be any happier elsewhere. I knew I needed more than my personal experience to reveal the truth about HBCUs to these younger, impressionable students. I needed more alumni to share how their respective colleges have impacted them. As a Spelman Ambassador, I had knowledge of Spelman and a strong interest in planning the event; however, the logistics became complicated. 

In early December, I began polling students who graduated from Potomac and currently attend an HBCU, to find a date with the most significant interest. As very few students who graduate from Potomac choose HBCUs, it took a few weeks to finalize a list of five students, including myself, who were in the area and willing to participate. Upon learning of this interest, I reached out to the Black Student Union Faculty Advisor, the Dean of Student Life, the Director of Alumni Relations, my former Theatre Director, my former Academic Advisor, and the Black Student Union Executive Board to ensure that the program would run smoothly.

On January 10th, Anwar Karim, Hala Karim, Donovan Dais, Marshall Lloyd, and I stood amongst a room full of engaged students as the BSU Faculty Advisor moderated. We chose one of the largest classrooms in the school; nevertheless, we still needed to bring in additional chairs for the overflow. Anwar, Potomac ’21 and Morehouse ’26, stated that he was impressed by the number of students in the room, as he could confidently state that the interest would have been far lower during his matriculation at the Potomac School. 

Nearly every African-American student at Potomac, from 9th to 12th grade, was seated in that room to listen to us discuss the importance of attending an HBCU, and I felt more than successful. I felt as though the attitude towards HBCUs had somehow changed, and we became the driving forces behind that change.We discussed a plethora of topics, including our social circles, academic adjustments, extracurricular activities, and the transition from a predominantly white environment to an HBCU. As I spoke, I emphasized that there was no one kind of Spelman student. That is precisely what drew me to apply and, eventually, attend Spelman. In a space where nearly everyone identifies as a black woman, we are all incredibly distinct. We all acknowledged that the power of HBCUs lies in the diversity of thought and the importance of Black expression. 

While many of these students will excel at any college they choose to attend, I am confident that they will take HBCUs into further consideration after the panel discussion. I am incredibly proud of the intelligent and engaged students that my peers have become, and I look forward to hosting a similar event in the future.

By: Morgan Hubbard