The White House Initiative on HBCUs Celebrates the 125th Anniversary of Second Morrill Act

Ed. note: This is cross-posted on the U.S. Department of Education's blog. See the original post here.

The White House Initiative on HBCUs celebrates the history and legacy of 19 historically Black universities that received land-grant status after the passing of the Second Morrill Act on August 30, 1890. The Federal Government passed the first Morrill Act in 1859 to advance agricultural sciences in the United States, and extended it to Confederate states in 1862. A second Morrill Act was established in 1890 to address discriminatory admissions practices in the formerly Confederate states, granting land-grant HBCUs the same legal status as the 1862 institutions.

Over the 125-year history of the 1890 HBCUs, they have demonstrated academic excellence and leadership, and have greatly contributed to the intellectual capital of the Nation. Today, we celebrate this triumphant moment in American history when this nation boldly addressed discrimination by creating a system of institutions that were so strong and vital that they have persisted and excelled, well beyond the laws that sustained legal discrimination for almost a century.

We salute:

• Alabama A & M University, located in Normal, AL was founded 1875. Their current president is Andrew Hugine, Jr.
• Alcorn State University, located in Alcorn State, MS was founded 1871. Their current president is Alfred Rankins.
• Delaware State University, located in Dover, DE was founded 1891. Their current president is Harry L. Williams.
• Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, located in Tallahassee, FL was founded 1887. Their current president is Elmira Mangum.
• Fort Valley State University, located in Fort Valley, GA was founded 1895. Their current interim president is Jessica Bailey.
• Kentucky State University, located in Frankfort, KY was founded 1886. Their current president is Raymond M. Burse.
• Langston University, located in Langston, OK was founded 1897. Their current president is Kent Smith.
• Lincoln University of Missouri, located in Jefferson City, MO was founded 1866. Their current president is Kevin D. Rome.
• North Carolina A & T State University, located in Greensboro, NC was founded 1891. Their current chancellor is Harold L. Martin, Sr.
• Prairie View A & M University, located in Prairie View, TX was founded 1876. Their current president is George C. Wright.
• South Carolina State University, located in Orangeburg, SC was founded 1896. Their current Interim president is Franklin Evans.
• Southern University and A & M College, located in Baton Rouge, LA was founded 1880. Their current president is Ray Belton.
• Tennessee State University, located in Nashville, TN was founded 1912. Their current president is Glenda Baskin Glover.
• Tuskegee University, located in Tuskegee, AL was founded 1881. Their current president is Brian Johnson.
• University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, located in Pine Bluff, AR was founded 1873. Their current chancellor is Laurence B. Alexander.
• University of Maryland Eastern Shore, located in Princess Anne, MD was founded 1886. Their current president is Juliette B. Bell.
• Central State University, located in Tawawa Springs, OH was founded 1887. Their current president is Cynthia Jackson-Hammond.
• Virginia State University, located in Petersburg, VA was founded 1882. Their current interim president is Pamela V. Hammond.
• West Virginia State University, located in Institute, WV was founded 1891. Their current president is Brian O. Hemphill.

Ivory A. Toldson, Ph.D., is the Acting Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.