While reading former Dr. Woolfolk’s text, Prairie View: A Study in Public Conscience, 1876-1946, I was drawn to chapter five titled “The University Fight.” In the pages of this chapter I was shocked to find that shortly after its inception the doors of Prairie View A&M University, or the “Normal” school for coloreds was on the verge of closure. Had it not been for former president E.H. Anderson and his unabashed request for help, we would not have had the luxury of being educated in these halls or granted the opportunity to feast our eyes upon this monumental piece of black history. Considering the fact that this fight began in the early 1880s, it is fair to conclude that our parents and grandparents would not have been able to share with us some of their most fond memories of this University.According to Woolfolk, Anderson expressed in his letter that he had only two week’s supplies, no credit and no money, and expressed the hope that some way could be found to continue the school. How heart retching it is to hear those words and see that on a day to day basis we take for granted the sacrifices that many people have made just to ensure we have the opportunity to feast our eyes upon advancement and progression. We complain about having to bring our own paper to the computer labs and buy scantrons for tests, when Anderson had not the basic supplies for guaranteeing that the doors of this university would remain open for class sessions the next day. Who are we to assume that this place is at our disposal? Now knowing that we almost didn’t make it, what are you going to do to esure that we continue to make it, and that our children make it?
Those individuals focused on maintaining the legacy of Prairie View A&M University are challenged to join the Pre-Alumni Association and ultimately become active alumni, to esure that Prairie View A&M University never again has to face an uncertain future or the possibility of becoming extinct. We, the pre-alumni association, hear and answer the concern of former president Anderson, and pledge to “Enhance Prairie View’s Future, today!