February 2010

• Introduction
• Barber-Scotia College
• Bennett College for Women
• Elizabeth City State University
• Fayetteville State University
• Johnson C. Smith University
• Livingstone College
• North Carolina A&T State University
• North Carolina Central University
• St. Augustine's College
• Shaw University
• Winston-Salem State University
• Download the full article as a

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Introduction

Often denied even basic literacy as African-American slaves, newly emancipated men and women after the Civil War more than ever needed education to function and prosper in a free society. The institutions which became North Carolina’s 11 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) arose to meet that need.

They range from small, private institutions enrolling hundreds to sprawling constituents of the University of North Carolina system enrolling thousands. Today they prepare students of all races for careers in teaching, social work, Christian ministry, business, the sciences, medicine, engineering, computer science and more. Some are private, four-year liberal arts colleges, others are comprehensive universities offering the full range of programming culminating in master’s and doctoral degrees.

What they have in common is that each sprang from humble circumstances with a handful of students and a vision to educate and enlighten. Their goal: to offer new possibilities to a new generation of U.S. citizens. Almost all began under the auspices of a church. One was the first publicly chartered HBCU in the South.