The First Four

Before the 1890 Morrill Act established many of the HBCUs in the south, four states designated institutions to educate colored people in agricultural and industrial arts.

My exploration into the world of 1890 HBCUs began with the intriguing narrative of Dr. Booker T. Washington's recruitment of Dr. George Washington Carver to Tuskegee Institute. Beyond the seemingly simple request for Dr. Carver to teach “how to plant and harvest crops”, their story is a remarkable example of 1890 leadership. Both of their accomplishments at Tuskegee, despite limited resources and an underfunded 1890 extension program, underline the pioneering initiatives needed for HBCUs. Interestingly enough, their blueprint traces back to the first four colleges that provided colored people access to an education in agricultural and mechanical arts, predating the Second Morrill Act of 1890 that established 13 others.

I respectfully refer to them as the First Four:

Hampton University has been recognized as a model for 1890 HBCUs, with an original mission encompassing agriculture, trades, and teacher training. These facets were deemed crucial during the Reconstruction Era for the formerly enslaved. In fact, one of Hampton’s most notable alumni served as the first president of Tuskegee Institute and recruited the first Black student, graduate, graduate student, and faculty of the first 1862 land-grant institution, to be the head of Tuskegee’s agricultural department for over 40 years. I speak of Dr. Washington and Dr. Carver, respectively and respectfully.?

Exploring the First Four reveals early funding barriers that continue to hold systemic relevance in present times. A common thread in the history of many HBCUs is linked to slavery. For 400 years, literacy was forbidden for slaves and colored individuals, denying them the right to education. Reconstruction brought a shift, recognizing the benefit of an educated Negro to a state's adaptability to industrialization.

The primary duty of HBCUs at their inception was to teach the formerly enslaved to read and write, marking the first barrier to equitable funding. Subsequently, teacher training became a priority, posing an additional impediment toward land-grant-designated funding.

The expansion of higher education academic programs, including agricultural and mechanic arts, only gained momentum after the passage of the Second Morrill Act in 1890. For example, Kentucky State was originally a teacher training college, but didn’t receive funding to establish their agriculture department until 1897.

As I delve into the 'first four,' the historical echoes reverberate the challenges that persist in the present-day landscape of HBCUs. From visionary leaders to systemic barriers, this journey not only illuminates the origins of 1890 HBCUs but also prompts a critical examination of the contemporary narrative.