Advocates for four historically black colleges and universities in Maryland are waging a public campaign to draw attention to a 13-year-old lawsuit over inequitable funding and to call for a resolution of a case that House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D) calls a “stain on the national reputation of Maryland’s higher education system.”
The effort arrives at a critical time for the roughly 100 colleges and universities nationwide designated as historically black institutions. Many are contending with slowing enrollment, paltry state investment and dwindling federal support. While these economic head winds are broadly affecting higher education, they are endangering historically black schools — widely known as HBCUs — that already have limited resources because of the legacy of discrimination.
States, including Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, have been forced to reckon with that legacy through the courts. But the history of neglect still places historically black schools at a disadvantage not easily remedied, some lawmakers and advocates said.
“It’s bigger than Maryland, in my opinion,” said Del. Darryl Barnes (D-Prince George’s), president of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. “It’s a national issue, and we’re trying to bring national attention to it.”
The caucus is working with graduates of Maryland’s historically black institutions on a campaign, and alumni have created a video detailing the history of the case.