WASHINGTON, D.C. — The week of September 24-28, our nation’s capital will be home to the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), celebrating the historical and cultural significance of HBCUs, which have been essential to American higher education for over 180 years.
HBCUs are hubs of academic excellence, cultural brilliance, and pathways to prosperity, producing 40 percent of all Black engineers, 40 percent of Black Congress members, 50 percent of all Black lawyers, 80 percent of all Black judges while supplying more Black applicants to medical schools than non-HBCU institutions.
Two HBCUs, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania and Howard University, helped transform the life and venture forward the trailblazing work and career of our namesake, Thurgood Marshall, the pioneering civil rights lawyer, and activist and the first Black United States Supreme Court Justice who advocated for equality, justice, social change, and education above all.
Justice Marshall’s legacy is a beacon—even now, three decades after his death—inspiring how the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) continues to fight injustices and uplift humanity while supporting educational equity and student opportunities.
At the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, advocating for member schools, which includes 47 of the publicly-supported HBCUs, helps transform the lives of thousands of students each year—access college, excel through college, and into the workforce.
TMCF is the largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community, enrolling over 80 percent of all students attending HBCUs. To date, TMCF has awarded more than $500 million in vital assistance to students, ensuring 85 percent of all funding directly benefits students through scholarships, leadership development, and career opportunities.
Iyana Beachem, a graduating senior majoring in race and public health at Fayetteville State University (FSU), is proud to be part of the HBCU family.
“My HBCU allowed me to grow in a safe space,” Beachem said. “Considering my family’s educational background; there was a lot of information I did not know about higher education and career readiness. Though I had the skills, I did not know how to translate them into professional spaces. FSU and TMCF prepared me to be ready for the real world.”
Extending beyond academia through programs like DevCon and the Teachers Quality & Retention Program (TQRP), TMCF is a vital resource in higher education and a reliable source for employers seeking top Black talent for competitive internships and jobs. TMCF is a leader in advocating for government policies and business practices to advance equity, inclusion, and opportunity, a critical component to the success of our member institutions and students.
“Without HBCUs, there would not be a middle class as we know it today. These institutions provide economic mobility for students, uplifting underserved populations and minority students,” says TMCF’s President and CEO, Dr. Harry L. Williams.
Low-income and first-generation students depend on financial support from TMCF to attend and graduate from college. Thurgood Marshall College Fund depends on financial investments to secure the economic mobility of our next generation of leaders.
Jordan Moody declined acceptance to Harvard University to attend Norfolk State University. Watch his video to learn why he loves, values, and cherishes the family-oriented environment at Norfolk State.
TMCF will continue to advocate and voice boldly the efforts to advance Justice Marshall’s legacy of inclusion and educational equity beyond National HBCU Week.
Show your support for HBCUs by sharing how an HBCU has impacted your life using the following hashtags on your social platforms: #TMCFSupportsHBCUs and #TMCFLovesHBCUs to celebrate HBCUs.
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