Since its inception 130 years ago, Prairie View A&M University has been the cornerstone of the black educational system in Texas. As the second oldest institution of higher learning in Texas, Prairie View reigns as the premiere producer of productive people, and has recently been ranked by Black Enterprise Magazine as 27 of the Top 50 Universities for African American students. Although all of these things are truly exceptional and worthy of praise, we would miss much of Prairie View’s relevance to the black community if we were to completely ignore its rich historical background.
If ever granted the opportunity to converse with an alumnus of Prairie View A&M University, one would find that there are numerous traditions that have been lost to a generation of students who take no pride in their institution, and furthermore consider the struggle of their ancestors to be irrelevant.
Prairie View began enrollment in March of 1878 with eight African American men, whose names are unknown to us, and are more commonly referred to as the “Unknown Eight.” These eight men were, “the first of their race to enroll in a state-supported college in Texas.” With their bravery and dedication to obtain higher education, we stand on this ground today as beneficiaries of their sacrifices. What perplexes me is the attitude of selfishness and laziness that many of us possess, an attribute that will never advance the growth of ourselves or our people. To many the facts presented are known, to many they are not, but to all, there is a duty and responsibility to learn, listen and appreciate the fact that we did not make it to this place of educational progress alone.
What is certain is that somewhere underneath the shade of the beautiful, age-old trees there are students who do have a high regard for the rich legacy of this place of higher learning. These elite students will work diligently to contribute to the excellence of this university as undergraduates, and, moreover, will continue to give back once they’ve walked across the stage and into their professional careers. For those students who aspire to enhance Prairie View’s rich legacy and history, the Pre-Alumni Association needs your enthusiasm, ideas and support in order to restore the spirit that “The Hill” once possessed.