A richly reported account of the forces threatening America’s historic black colleges and universities—and how diverse leaders nationwide are struggling to keep these institutions and black culture alive for future generations.
“We’ve got no time for excuses . . . nobody is going to give you anything that you have not earned.”
—President Barack Obama, Morehouse College commencement address
American education is under siege, and few parts of the system are more threatened than black colleges and universities. Once hailed as national treasures, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) such as Spelman College, Morehouse College, and Howard University—the backbone of the nation’s black middle class which have produced legends including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, and Oprah Winfrey—are in a fight for survival. The threats are numerous: Republican state legislators are determined to merge, consolidate, or shut down historically black colleges and universities; Ivy League institutions are poaching the best black high school students; President Obama’s push for heightened performance standards, and cuts in loan funding from the U.S. Department of Education.
In this tightly woven narrative full of intriguing characters, Where Everybody Looks Like Me chronicles this near breaking point for black colleges. Award-winning journalist Ron Stodghill offers a rare behind-closed-doors look into the private world of the boards of directors, the black intelligentsia, the leaders of business, law, politics, culture, and sports, and other influential figures involved in the debate and battle to save these institutions. Told from the perspective of a family, Where Everybody Looks Like Me shows their struggle to secure the best education for their child. Where Everybody Looks Like Me is a tale of vision and vanity—of boardroom backbiting, financial chicanery, idealism and passion. Here are administrators, celebrities, alumni, and others whose lives are intricately tied to these institutions and their fate—whether they will remain strong and vital, or become a revered part of our cultural past.
Award-winning journalist Ron Stodghill has worked for the New York Times, Time, Business Week, and Savoy, for which he was editor in chief. He was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University. Stodghill is the author of Redbone, and his work has been anthologized in Brotherman and has appeared in Slate, Essence, Black Enterprise, and Ebony. He is also a professor at Johnson C. Smith University, an HBCU in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he lives with his wife and three sons.
Editor’s Note: This is a very interesting topic, especially since its close to our heart. The Harlem World Board has regular conversation regarding our demographic and issues of race locally, nationally and globally. Why, our goal is to have Harlem World remain strong and vital, and not become a revered part of our cultural past in Harlem.
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