It’s important to keep in mind that Simon’s rationale for developing and urging Congress to adopt the Black college act was based on the research that I did as a consultant for the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education. Simon’s interest in HBCUs hinged on the substantial number of HBCU alumni located in Chicago, most of whom had been recruited to teach in the predominantly Black schools in the city’s public school system.
— William “Bud” Blakey is an attorney and longtime advocate of HBCUs. This column is an edited excerpt from his forthcoming book, “Keep on Diggin.”
© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com

