There is rarely a week that passes that someone (students, colleagues, friends, and/or family) does not fail to ask what I consider to be one of the most ridiculous questions in the world. That annoying question comes in several forms but translates into, “Why did you choose to come to Prairie View A & M University?” This piece is being composed with the intention of publicly answering this question with a definitive answer.The reason I chose to work at Prairie View A&M University is relatively simple. I truly believe that Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCUs) are as vital today as they were during prior periods of state sanctioned racial segregation when they were the only educational option for African-Americans. Additionally, a who’s who of the American academic and political arena has either matriculated through HBCU campuses as students or served on their faculties. Genius such as those exhibited by W.E.B. Du Bois (Fisk), John Hope Franklin (Fisk), Alice Walker (Spelman), the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., (Morehouse), and Maya M. Rockeymoore (PVAMU), to name only a few, have graced the halls of HBCUs and went forward to fundamentally impact the nation in a positive way.
Considering HBCU’s success in producing influential individuals, it seems clear that this is the place to make a major difference in the world. The traditional role of the HBCU professor has been to equip their students academically, culturally, and socially to not only enter an oft-hostile outside world, but also pave the way for those generations to come. HBCU graduates have been entrusted with defining the future direction of the race. Put simply, there are many African-Americans who were not given the opportunity to pursue an education. Such individuals’ hopes and dreams are linked to the work done at HBCUs. Truth be told, it is only as a direct result of the prayers, support, and sacrifices of my family that I was able to earn a Ph. D. So it does not seem like a great burden to honor their generous gift via teaching at PVAMU and helping to produce productive people.