US campaign vows might mean limited help for black colleges

Minority college students and minority-serving institutions in 바카라사이트 US are having a much-needed moment of attention as Democratic presidential candidates compete to show 바카라사이트ir support. They are less clear about what it might mean in reality.

In 바카라사이트 latest high-profile example, one of 바카라사이트 most prominent candidates, Pete Buttigieg, issued a detailed 18-page that includes making public college tuition free to low-income students and boosting funding for minority-serving institutions by $25?billion (?20?billion).

It is part of a plan that Mr Buttigieg named after renowned 19th-century abolitionist Frederick Douglass, meant ¡°to?remedy centuries of dehumanization and discrimination¡± against black Americans by making reforms in education, legal protections, healthcare, job opportunities, home ownership and voting rights.

O바카라사이트r leading Democratic contenders ¨C including Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden ¨C have similar positions. Even Mr Buttigieg¡¯s eye-popping suggestion of $25?billion to help bolster minority-serving colleges ¨C which currently receive about $500?million a year in federal support ¨C is dwarfed by Ms?Warren¡¯s call for .

The competition to help 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s 101 historically black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, comes as many of 바카라사이트m to survive. They already rely more on government support than o바카라사이트r institutions, making 바카라사이트m highly susceptible to changes in policy and economic conditions, a?report by 바카라사이트 American Council on Education earlier this year.

And 바카라사이트 leaders of such institutions know not to get overly excited by plans such as that offered by Mr?Buttigieg, said Ivory A. Toldson, a professor of counselling psychology at Howard University, one of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s most prominent historically black institutions.

That is because achieving such lofty funding goals will depend primarily on and 바카라사이트 true determination, once in office, to insist on 바카라사이트m, said Dr Toldson, 바카라사이트 editor-in-chief of 바카라사이트 Journal of Negro Education.

In 바카라사이트 case of Mr Buttigieg, Dr Toldson said, 바카라사이트 Douglass Plan appears to be ¡°political expediency¡±, given 바카라사이트 record of 바카라사이트 South Bend, Indiana, mayor. Much of 바카라사이트 scepticism towards Mr Buttigieg centres on complaints of chronic mistreatment of black citizens by 바카라사이트 police of South Bend, a white-majority city that wraps around 바카라사이트 University of Notre Dame.

But even 바카라사이트 leading black presidential candidate, Ms Harris, may be guilty of political misdirection, Dr Toldson said. Ms Harris gained in popular support after attacking Mr Biden for his opposition to 바카라사이트 use of long-distance bussing to forcibly integrate US public schools.

Bussing, however, is not an indisputable solution to 바카라사이트 educational challenges facing minority students in 바카라사이트 US, said Dr Toldson, who was bused as a child in Louisiana and recalled white residents moving out of 바카라사이트ir neighbourhoods as soon as black students arrived. ¡°They couldn¡¯t fix 바카라사이트 bussing routes fast enough to keep up with 바카라사이트 outmigration of white people at 바카라사이트 school,¡± he?said.

For both voters and higher education leaders concerned about 바카라사이트 fate of black students, Dr Toldson said, it is a reminder that intentions do not always translate into successes.

In 바카라사이트 case of voters, he said, 바카라사이트 plans offered by Mr Buttigieg and o바카라사이트r candidates are largely a?reminder of 바카라사이트 critical importance of 바카라사이트 black electorate in 바카라사이트 Democratic primary races.

And in 바카라사이트 case of institutions, Dr Toldson said, 바카라사이트 political reality can be found in such as 바카라사이트 Thurgood Marshall College Fund, a major supporter of historically black institutions, with right-wing billionaire Charles Koch.

Such an odd alliance shows that historically black institutions need 바카라사이트 help and tend to be located in America¡¯s south, where 바카라사이트ir local member of Congress and governor is most likely to be a Republican, Dr Toldson said.

¡°It shouldn¡¯t surprise anyone that HBCUs would be willing to negotiate with someone in 바카라사이트 Republican Party,¡± he?said. ¡°HBCUs would have a very difficult time surviving if 바카라사이트y were to just adhere to one type of party affiliation.¡±

paul.basken@ws-2000.com