Anchoring Our Communities Through Service
Black communities and Historically Black Colleges and Universities are linked through shared history and purpose in the United States. Founded to provide Black citizens with a mechanism for education and social mobility, HBCUs continue to play a critical role in the shaping of Black communities throughout the country. At this critical juncture in the histories of Black Americans and Black institutions, it is critical to examine the role that HBCUs can continue to play in addressing the needs of Black people and Black communities. In this chapter, readers will engage in a dialogue with the author regarding the ways in which HBCUs can aid Black communities despite other phenomena occurring in society, such as gentrification, mass incarceration, and school systems that routinely disengage Black students.