Why I Chose NOT to Attend an HBCU

Inevitably, someone asks me during the school year, “Dr. Jay, why didn’t you go to an HBCU?” Well, the choice was intensely personal and had absolutely nothing to do with the perceived lack of intellectual rigor of HBCUs. I could give my students a sap story, but there are mainly 2 reasons: rampant materialism and lack of professionalism.

Since I am an African American Studies enthusiast, some student at some point in the school year asks: “Dr. Jay, why didn’t you go to an HBCU?” Before anyone comes for me, let me just say that I still credit Alcorn State University’s band, the Sounds of Dynamite, as the fire that ignited my love of college education. Most of the very good teachers that I had as an elementary school teacher attended the now-closed Mississippi Industrial College and they sang its praises for my entire childhood. They told affectionate stories of “MI” all of the time (failing to mention their rival, Rust College, right across the street). But the question remains: why did I choose to pass up all of the HBCUs in my area for a predominantly white institution? As a short answer, I should just show these shoes:

For those of you unfamiliar, this is a classic pair of Nike Air Jordans from the 1990s. This picture is courtesy the Hoop Doctor.

What do they have to do with my school choice, though? Well, I went to an all-Black…