OPINION: Legislative Black Caucus gears-up, hypes-up the community to rescue HBCU funding

In the crowded auditorium at Mount Nebo Baptist Church, nearly half of the 58 member Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus was present to either make a presentation or to “amen” what their colleagues presented. Thus, for slightly more than an hour, attendees were provided with information and inspiration to support the idea of protecting the current level of HBCU funding, which is already inequitable, rather than allow it to be reduced through a new formula.

While the college board has never publicly presented and explained in a comprehensive manner its so-called “funding formula,” it is now proposing what it calls a performance-based formula. Prioritized in the formula would be measures such as graduation rate and the earning capacity of each university’s graduates. 

On every measure so prioritized, HBCUs would come up on the short end of the stick. According to several presenters, Alcorn could lose $29 million, MVSU $35 million, and JSU even more. Their local communities, which are predominately Black, would also be losers, since the residing HBCU is a major economic engine therein.

Legislative Black Caucus members noted the fallacious and racist nature of the arguments being advanced verbally and in writing. For example, the lower graduation rates of HBCUs reflect the fact that a large number of HBCU students carry reduced loads or drop out for periods of time in order to earn the money needed for school. That means it takes them longer to graduate. Similarly, quite often alumni of HBCUs earn less than their PWI (Predominately White Institution) counter-parts because of the racially-discriminatory nature of many employers. Thus, rather than swallowing as the gospel what was being “mouthed” by the leaders of the college board and the legislature, the Legislative Black Caucus members concluded that revising the funding proposal was an attempted money grab and is centered on the fact that the proponents felt that they have the power to make the changes.

Four proposed courses of action emerged from the Legislative Black Caucus meeting. (1) Filing a lawsuit to do what had been attempted through the Ayers case. (2) Citizens organizing and confronting legislators through calls and letters, in committee meetings, and in the legislative chambers when there are debates and votes scheduled. (3) Holding each legislator, including Legislative Black Caucus members, accountable for their votes on critical issues. (4) Citizens organizing and campaigning to defeat opposing candidates, carrying the day where they are in the majority and making the difference when they are in the minority.

Those are solid and sound ideas. They just need committed leaders to get the ball rolling and a corps of willing workers to follow. They are good for the long haul and good for the immediate future. Hopefully, they will be accepted and become the working agenda for HBCU alumni and students, for civil rights groups, and for others concerned about true democracy.

In the meantime, in order to assist the Legislative Black Caucus more effectively, tackle all the critical issues the Legislative Black Caucus has raised, including public school and HBCU funding, affordable healthcare, criminal justice reform, and the protection of voting rights. Several operational changes could also be made. For example, graduate students and other researchers could be assigned by their advisors, or volunteer on their own, to work with the Legislative Black Caucus to study issues and make policy recommendations, summarize and analyze proposed bills to determine their impact on Black and working class people, and develop communication avenues summoning citizens to meetings and sessions.

Funds for such endeavors ought to be willingly provided by citizen-activists, civil rights, alumni, and other groups as well as philanthropic organizations. This would help the Legislative Black Caucus to become an even more effective instrument for its constituents.

Under its current leadership, the Legislative Black Caucus appears to be geared-up and willing to get the citizens hyped-up enough to make a significant difference this session. The Mount Nebo meeting, the MLK Breakfast, and the filing of the Robert Clark Voting Rights Bill are three concrete examples of that readiness and willingness. So, let us all unite and get to working, since time waits on no one.