What HBCUs Can Learn From Community Colleges Pt. 1

So the numbers are in.

Last month the U.S. economy added 222,000 new jobs to the economy, resulting in an overall unemployment rate of 4.4% (no thanks to 45, ugh). Now, before we get all celebratory, let’s put this in context. Y’all remember what I said about America having a cold and Black America having the flu? …okay then. America’s unemployment rate is 4.4%, but Black America’s unemployment rate is… wait for it, 7.1%. That’s approximately 3 million people.

Mr. HBCU, that’s not that bad though, right?

Wrong.

White America’s unemployment rate is 3.8%, all according to The Business Insider. You read that right — White America is below the national average. Obviously, they’re just more well polished and skilled than the rest of us.

[insert side eye here]

No, they’re just more well connected. An unfortunate and pesky ‘little’ side-effect of systemic racism, slavery, and Jim Crow. But I wouldn’t want to be accused of “playing the ‘race card,’” so moving right along…

What are we going to do about it though? There are tons of blogs, talking heads, and opinion pieces that identify the problem(s), while very few address solutions. Let’s not be one of them. Let’s talk strategy. What industries are we not represented in? What industries are we locked out of? What are the needs of society that need to be filled professionally?

There appears to be a huge push towards obtaining the college degree, even while some studies suggest the return on investment is diminishing. So it begs us to turn our focus towards the type of degrees students are investing in. We know now that STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) degrees are a no-brainier. The employment rates for these degrees is through the roof, although the racial wage gap still persists.

What about plumbing? How about a career as an electrician? Welders? Foremen?

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…wait, wait — don’t knock it just yet.

See, I believe there is a learned elitism that has been growing within the body of Black America for some time now, even more rapidly as of late. It’s quite understandable, from my perspective. Negros in America today are the decedents of Africans, captured against their will and made to work as slaves for hundreds of years, only resulting in a faux freedom dripping with the residue of a de jure segregationist system.

I get it.

As a result, Black Americans don’t feel the desire or the need to work ‘menial’ jobs. Black America has effectively “been there; done that”. Careers perceived as having any connection to their laborious 2nd class past are automatically looked down on in disgust. The story of Blacks in America is one of running — running to escape the second-class citizenship bestowed upon us by our majority counterparts.

The fact is though, welders, for example, with 1–2 years of experience can earn $37,000 — $50,000, annually. There are some welders, such as underwater welders who earn upwards of $100,000 annually. According to research conducted by Salary.com, the average electrician earns $58,000/year. A plumber — $46,000/year.

I know. I know. You’re looking at me like “man, that ain’t no money.” But consider that becoming a professional in each of these fields, earning a license requires only 18–24 months… at half the cost of a Bachelors degree. With less student loans to pay back, students salaries stretch a whole lot further. I would be remiss if I didn’t also acknowledge that these are fields that are actively looking to hire due to an overwhelming shortage of skilled labor.

What does that mean? That means HBCUs could be producing graduates with less debt and more job offers than a traditional 4-year liberal arts graduate. I will go as far as to say that these graduate would be more likely to give back — not because they are more grateful, but because they are more economically empowered to do so.

I’ll be exploring more of this idea as HBCUs serving as community colleges, with an emphasis on trade and skills. Let me know your thoughts. How do you feel about HBCUs offering trade degrees/certificates?

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