I loved attending an HBCU, but now I'm still struggling with student loan debt 20 years later. I don't want the same for my kids.
A graduate of an HBCU reflects on the positive personal impact of her education while expressing concern over the long-term financial burden of student loan debt. She advocates for different financial planning for her own children despite her appreciation for the HBCU experience.
Why it matters
The article highlights the intersection of cultural identity, the value of specialized education, and the systemic issue of student debt in the United States.
The author graduated from an HBCU. Courtesy of Chantel Henry Since I was a kid, I wanted to attend a HBCU, so I applied to Clark Atlanta University. I loved being around other Black students and professionals, but I was racking up debt. The school set me up for success, but I don't want my kids to attend a HBCU. Since I was 11, I dreamed of attending a historically Black college or university . That dream started at Morgan State University in Baltimore, where I spent two weeks each summer in a program focused on leadership and academics. For a preteen growing up in Baltimore City , Morgan felt like another world. I had seen drug deals outside my front door and heard gunshots while playing hide and seek with friends. My mother refused to let our neighborhood define what I thought was possible for my life.
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