Black Colleges Face Whiteout
A Black Agenda Radio commentary by Glen Ford
Reprinted From Black Agenda Report
"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 Glen.Ford@BlackAgendaReport.com.
To become part of the Coalition to Save Albany and Savannah State Colleges, contact Ruby Nell Sales at 706 323 0246, or email spirithousedc@aol.com.
