Black Colleges Face Whiteout
A Black Agenda Radio commentary by Glen Ford
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"In Georgia, efforts are
afoot to dismantle at least two Black colleges."
As the great unraveling of finance capitalism unfolds, lots
of issues that were prime concerns in Black politics not long ago, are getting
buried in the economic debris. To many, the survival of Black colleges seems
less of a priority when measured against the loss of nearly two million jobs
over the past year, and the impending erasure of what is left of the nation's
industrial base. It is in times of
general crisis that the enemies of identifiably African American institutions
find new opportunities for mischief. Such is the case in Georgia, where efforts
are afoot to dismantle at least two Black colleges: Savannah and Albany
state universities.
Members of the Republican-controlled state legislature are
using the economic crisis as a rationale to merge majority Black Savannah State
with mostly white Armstrong Atlantic State
University. Historically Black Albany State University would be forced to
combine with majority white Darton College. Adding insult to injury, Darton
College is only a two-year institution, a community college, while Albany State
is a full university.
Modern-day racists have learned
to cloak their anti-Black ideas in progressive-sounding language. Georgia Senate
Higher Education Committee Chairman Seth Harp claims he wants to merge the
Black universities with white schools because they're "part of the legacy of
segregation." When a Georgia Republican goes on a crusade against the vestiges
of Jim Crow, it's time to watch out! Senator Harp says the state would save
money by eliminating duplication of administration and courses. Black lawmakers counter that the state could save money just as easily
by merging nearby white-majority schools, such as Georgia Tech and Georgia
State. But of course, the white alumnae of these two schools would not tolerate
the loss of either institution's distinct identity.
"It is the white schools
that have failed Black students."
Georgia's higher education
chancellor Erroll Davis is more honest about the deal. He admits that a
Black-white merger would be a "political decision," not one based on
cost-cutting. The truth is, cost-cutting decisions are always also political
decisions, based on relative political power. Georgia is betting that African
Americans don't have the clout or inclination to save Savannah State and Albany
State from institutional oblivion.
There is no question that Black colleges provide a modern,
as well as historical, service of great value. White four-year state
institutions seldom recruit Black students in numbers that even come close to
the proportion of African Americans seeking higher education - and have even
more difficulty retaining Blacks. The logical conclusion from the vast body of
evidence is that white schools are often hostile environments for African
Americans. In other words, it is the white schools that have failed Black
students. White supremacist ideology cannot accept this obvious truth. No, the
"problem" must always be rooted in Black institutions, or in Black culture -
anything but white incompetence and hostility. Questions of equity in education
require debate in which both parties are recognized as equals - which is precisely
what racists cannot abide. Their solution is always to eliminate the Black
voice - in this case, Black educational institutions - so that whites can win
the argument by default. That is one lesson history has taught us.
For Black Agenda Radio, I'm Glen Ford.
BAR executive editor Glen Ford can be contacted at [email protected].
To become part of the Coalition to Save Albany
and Savannah State Colleges, contact Ruby Nell Sales at 706 323 0246, or email [email protected].
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