The history of HBCU’s is fascinating. According to my research, “HBCUs were founded to serve the educational needs of black Americans during times of segregation and post-slavery oppression, offering a safe space for higher learning.”  While many believe HBCUs are limited to only Black students, the reality is different. For example, Bluefield State University in West Virginia opened in 1885 as the Bluefield Colored Institute. Today, Bluefield State University has a student body that reached close to 90% White. Furthermore, based on the latest data, “white students make up roughly 10% to 15% of total HBCU enrollment nationwide.” Understandably, some might be surprised and upset by these statistics.

They may see the increasing presence of white students on HBCU campuses as a dilution/deviation from their original mission statement, i.e., to serve black students. I, on the other hand, see this trend as something to build on in these times of rancor, division and white folks’ fragility. Given the fact that in this country white people are the majority, it is difficult to wrap our head around the fact that people who identify as ‘White’ are globally a minority group. The reality is that “White people make up roughly 10% to 16% of the global population. These percentages equal about 1 billion to 1.3 billion people out of a total world population of over 8 billion people.” According to statistics, Asians make up about 60% of all people on Earth; African and Black populations make up about 14% of the global population. So, most people on earth are People of Color. With these facts as a backdrop, Globally, people who identify as ‘White’ are clearly in the minority group.

Now, the question is are White Americans mentally and emotionally prepared to be the minority group—both at home and globally? Based on my curbside view, it looks like many White Americans are using immigration controls, calls for domestic Whites to have more babies as well as restricting legal immigration to White South Africans and Europeans. Will these initiatives work? I doubt it. What needs to happen is that White folks should be preparing to function in world as minorities. And the point I want to make is there is no better place for White Americans to experience being a “minority” than on the campus of an HBCU. Here are my suggestions for creating a “minority experience” for White American students and future leaders.

• Establish ‘Exchange Leadership programs between HBCU and majority predominately White Universities and Colleges. More specifically, each student would spend one semester or summer at their respective exchange schools.

• Require each student keep a diary of their experiences on the exchange campus.

• Set up joint meetings between Black and White exchange students to discuss their experiences.

I sincerely believe that this type of arrangement will prove beneficial to both the participating students and our society. Our current crop of White leaders will gain important insights on how to work with, bargain with and respect their so-called minority counterparts during sensitive negotiations.  How about giving this idea a spin.

About The Author

Kwame S. Salter is President of The Salter Consulting Group, LLC.  After enjoying a rewarding career in non-profits and local politics, Kwame spent 22 years with Kraft Foods, where he rose to become Senior Vice President of Human Resources. He attributes his success to a strong work ethic, a commitment to excellence and to the employees he served, and unwavering candor.