The United States of America has a long history in higher education, but one area of its history not exhausted through research involves higher education for African Americans. Specifically, higher education for African Americans in the area of theology or biblical studies presents numerous opportunities for further research. Soon after the enslaved African Americans were freed in 1863 as a result of signing the Emancipation Proclamation, the government provided land grants through the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890, for the establishment of public institutions of higher education for White and African Americans. African-American ministers recognized the need to formally study the Bible. Segregation in the South prevented African-American ministers the opportunity to attend White seminaries. As a result, many African-American ministers spent time studying the Bible in small-group settings. In some instances, educated African-American ministers spent time teaching the uneducated ministers. Even though these ministers were creative in their pursuit of education, there was still a need to establish a formal institute to train African Americans in the exposition of the Bible. In Texas, this need resulted in the establishment in 1927 of Dallas Colored Bible Institute, known today as Southern Bible Institute. The purpose of Southern Bible Institute is to train African-American men and women in the scriptures. The institution realizes the need for pastors, missionaries, and Sunday school teachers to understand the Bible to effectively minister. (Contains 4 tables.)