This collection of articles presents information on such issues as: selective colleges most preferred by African American students; the bidding war for gifted African American students; African American student progress in medical schools; the meager endowments of black colleges; the digital divide at black colleges; and why early decision…

Presents statistical data on the progress of African Americans in higher education, discussing: the black-white higher education equality index; statistics measuring the state of racial inequality; blacks in the performing and fine arts; and state-by-state comparison of blacks as a percentage of all public and private college enrollments compared…

New statistics reveal a slight decline in African American college student graduation rates. African Americans admitted to the most selective colleges continue to have high completion rates, while graduation rates at less selective state colleges and historically black colleges are far lower. Reasons for this difference include educational…

Describes a century of failed schooling for African American students, explaining how in the early 1900s, southern black schools were grossly inadequate and underfunded. Examines the writings of Thomas Jesse Jones and W.E.B. DuBois. Discusses attempts to change the educational system after World War II, efforts toward school desegregation, and…

A large number of black scholars have pursued advanced degrees in the German language, history, and culture. Describes the history of African American interest in the German language and culture, highlighting various black scholars who have studied German over the years. Presents data on African Americans in German graduate programs and examines…

Gives black scholar Thomas Sowell's personal account of his journey from Howard University, a historically black college that provided him with what he perceived to be a mediocre education, to Harvard University, which challenged him intellectually and socially. He attended Columbia University to study for his master's degree, then moved on to…

These articles examine such issues as black student enrollments at the nation's highest-ranked colleges; how black law school enrollments will collapse under race-blind admissions; black faculty rankings at leading U.S. business schools; medical school deans defend affirmative action admissions; black teams and white coaches; science grants to…

Presents a statistical record of the progress of African Americans in U.S. higher education institutions, including the black-white higher education equality index; statistics measuring the state of racial inequality; ranking the nation's law schools according to percentage of black students; and college affordability (comparing black and white…

Examines current support for the further racial integration of U.S. black colleges, focusing on whether black colleges may be permitted to adopt race-sensitive recruiting and admissions policies specifically calculated to identify, attract, and enroll white students. Highlights the danger of framing a general prohibition that will deny black…

Profiles several African American men who were black electees to the Phi Beta Kappa honorary society in the 19th century (no women were elected during this period), including George Washington Henderson, a former slave, who was the first African American elected. A sidebar describes the first African American woman elected to Phi Beta Kappa in…

After a decade of steady improvements, graduation rates among African American college students dropped in each of the past 2 years. Discusses the success of black women versus black men, differences in black student graduation rates, differences in black and white graduation rates, graduation rates at black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and…

Suggests that mainstream book review editors, as well as book editors in the black press, reinforce the notion that blacks are experts on themselves and on little else. In recent years, most black-authored books publicized in the press have focused on racial themes or featured blacks in central roles. However, books by African Americans that are…

A former Harvard University president looks at the academic considerations that led him to become an extremely dedicated advocate of affirmative action in higher education, emphasizing his belief that student diversity offers a powerful way of creating the intellectual energy needed to promote greater knowledge as well as respect for difference.…

Presents statistics describing the progress of blacks in higher education, including: the black-white higher education equality index; statistics measuring the state of racial inequality; statistics on merit-based and need-based student financial aid; and statistics on blacks in higher education (e.g., there were significant increases between…

At most flagship state universities, black enrollment falls far below the percentage of the black population in the state in which they operate. Sometimes, the states appear to have admissions policies that deny the finest quality public education to black students within the state. Many state universities have failed to hire more than a token…